The grace that destroys evil at the root

Sunday July 11, 2021

The grace that destroys evil at the root

Searching the Scriptures

Indeed, it is from within, it is from the hearts of men that evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual immorality, murders, thefts, the thirst for possession, wickedness, fraud, debauchery, envious gaze, calumny, pride, madness. All his evil things come out from within and make a man unclean. Mark 7:21-23

The heart, mentioned in verse 21, constitutes the totality of the mind, the emotions, the desires, the will. An unclean heart corrupts the thoughts, feelings, words, actions, of the person concerned.

The religious believed that what defiled the men was the fact that they did not observe certain religious rules. Their perception of purity could be summed up in an accumulation of visible practices : wash your hands, pay your tithing, recite psalms, wear clothes with fringes, pray standing... !

Jesus reminds us that evil is not eradicated by an accumulation of visible gestures, evil is within us, and, if the source is polluted, all the practices of the religious world cannot purify the source. Jesus shows that we need a new heart, we need the source to be purified.

The best religious rules cannot transform the man from within. They can only give the appearance of holiness, they do not create holiness. Only the power of grace, offered by means of faith to one who believes in the sacrifice of Christ, has this power to transform the heart of man. By this grace, your intellect, your emotions, your feelings, your words, your actions... are completely regenerated at the source.

Let us not throw stones at the Pharisees, to whom Jesus is addressing. Everyone must reflect on their own traditions, behind which they take refuge, hiding the evil that is at the bottom of their heart. You can denounce traditions that exist in other religious movements and turn a blind eye to your own traditions. You can sing without clapping your hands, or by clapping your hands, singing while standing or sitting down. You can wear this or that garment that is suitable when going to church : suit, tie, hat, veil... You can have long or short hair, a thick beard or shaved... You can appreciate this or such and such a style of song, such or such liturgical form concerning communion, preaching, baptism, the laying on of hands... It is not these forms, whatever they are, which will destroy the root of evil.

Lay the foundation of the cross as the basis of God's grace in your life and that grace will deal with evil at its source.

Listen to the voice of God

Take the time to listen to what God wants to tell you. Ask God to search your heart and show you what needs to be transformed by His grace.

Praying is easy. Talk to God as you would your closest friend. God loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example of a prayer : "Lord, I cannot make my heart pure by my own strength. Help me to appreciate the power of your grace in my life and allow you to transform me."

Praise God

To praise God is to show him our gratitude. What are your subjects of recognition today ? Take a moment to thank the Lord for this.

Act today

Now dig deeper into what you have received. What can you do to apply what God has told you ? Write down the concrete actions you can take.

Honor the Lord

Our route for the day ends. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Thank you Lord for the sacrifice of Jesus which opens the doors of grace to me. Yours be the kingdom, the power and the glory, amen !"

Paul Calzada

Source (The Thought of the Day)