I- Jesus explains.. "What comes from your Heart?"
1. We continue with the Gospel of St Mark 7:16-23, as the author writes the event down, giving us a picture of Jesus’ teaching on “What comes out from a person’s heart?”
When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.
2. Here, Jesus explains to His Disciples, and to us that ACTS OF VIRTUE, GOOD WORKS, DESIRES, and SENTIMENTS should come from our Heart. The 13 things Jesus mentions go contrary to the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
3. Like water can turn certain metals into rust, choosing to do wrong things can take us away from our Spiritual Journey from God.
II - The 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit - Valuable to your Spiritual Journey. (Part 2)
a. Long-Suffering - This fruit helps me by strengthening my patience during a long period of trails or suffering. The Holy Spirit gives it to you, even when you find no encouragement from a family member, a mentor, or a friend.
b. Mildness - Helps you to hold your anger. From moving towards an explosive rage.
c. Faith - One becomes faithful when you deal with family, friend, or neighbor.
d. Modesty - One moderates ones actions and attitudes towards others.
e. Continence - Self control when it comes to sexual temptations.
f. Chastity - Helps you to guard senses, so you will not fall into sin. We see the value of the human person as temples of the Holy Spirit.
1. Keep in mind, Jesus has taught us the value of ourselves and the people around us - how we should treat one another.
a. God brings to us the 10 Commandments: (Exodus 20:1-17)
b. God teaches us how our families must show us the value of the Commandments, summing them up into 2 Commandments. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:29-34)
c. Jesus teaches us the Beatitudes, which focus on the Commandments of God, and how we should be with others. (Matthew 5:3-12; Matthew 5:17-20)
LET US PRAY:
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear.
The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit:
1. What were Jesus' words to His Disciples about what comes from a person's heart? Choose one of the Bible versus listed in "II:1" to answer this question.
2.. Prepare yourself in making a good Confession - See this Video and Answer the Following Questions
