The spirit of the inner life

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Laetetur cor quarentium

The Monks of Pluscarden Abbey

Today is Wednesday the 11th of February, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, in the 5th week of Ordinary Time.

The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing Laetetur cor quaerentium: Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice; seek the Lord and be strengthened, seek his face always. Entering into prayer today, we are also seeking the Lord, seeking his face, looking for the signs of his presence in our lives, gently guiding us in truth and peace and love.

Laetetur cor quaerentium Dominum:

quaerite Dominum, et confirmamini:

quaerite faciem eius semper.

Confitemini Domino, et invocate nomen ejus:

annuntiate intergentes opera eius.

2:28

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 7:14-23

Then [Jesus] called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’

When he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them, ‘Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, ‘It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’

4:29

A Pursuit Of Initial And Infallible Design

Dear Gravity

In this passage Jesus turns from the leaders to speak to the people. He has been listening to the accusations about not observing the traditions of the elders. What is your immediate response to what he is saying? Do you feel conviction, relief, or perhaps discomfort?

Picture Jesus addressing the crowd. Perhaps they have been entertained by the ‘to and fro’ of the debate so far. But now Jesus focuses on them. Imagine Jesus pointing not outward to rituals or traditions, but inward, to the human heart.

What is your reaction as He calls attention to the spirit of the inner life rather than the written word of law?

We may not worry about clean and unclean foods on religious grounds, but we may sometimes judge other’s commitment by how we measure their behaviour against our own. As we listen to the passage again, consider where God is inviting you to greater honesty and integrity within.

7:49

Mark 7:14-23

Then [Jesus] called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’

When he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them, ‘Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, ‘It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’

9:37

In a moment of prayer, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in whatever way you need.

11:49

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen