“Am I, too, a hypocrite?”

The Gospel reading for Sunday, September 1st is: Mark 7:1-8; 14-15; 21-23 and my attention is attracted to toward Jesus' words to the crowd, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile."

Thus, the question in the title of this post, "Am I, too, a hypocrite?"

What might I have within that defile? Greed? Envy? Arrogance? Evil thoughts?

My answer for each of these questions is YES.

Lord, forgive me for "clinging to human tradition and giving 'lip service'" to you and to God's commandment. Help me resist temptation of allowing what I may have within that defiles. You are my savior and only pathway to salvation. May I be constantly aware of my thoughts, of what I might say or do, and of the aim for my love.

Amen!