Look Within February 7

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time

by Diane Bayne

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come from within are what defile. . . 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.) “What comes out of the man that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” Mark 7: 14-15, 20-23

The story is told that one night a brother who was traveling with Francis of Assisi decided to stay awake to observe how he prayed. All night long he heard Francis repeat only two questions, “Who are you, God?” and “Who am I?” All the great spiritual masters teach that, to begin living a spiritual life, we must first know ourselves. We must look within. Such looking can be uncomfortable, for it brings us face to face with our sinfulness, and that is not a pretty sight. But by looking within we also discover the presence of God–and we begin to learn who we are. Carl Jung once said, “Who looks without, dreams; who looks within, awakens.” It is no coincidence that the first meditation of the Cursillo weekend is “Know Yourself.” If you would know God, you need first know yourself.

Looking within, we become aware of the scope of our selfishness. In today’s Gospel Jesus names a formidable list of sins that are born within, in the hearts of humans. But we need not face our sorry situations alone. Looking within, we can also become aware of the voice of God, calling us His “beloved.” Henri Nouwen reminds us that “being the beloved is the core truth of our existence.”

Piety

It is because we are “beloved” that Christ was sent to redeem us. It is because we are “beloved” that Christ, “. . . though he was in the form of God, did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. . . “ It is because we are “beloved” that Christ dwells within us and walks with us each day, never more than a heart prayer away. In the presence of Christ, we are able to take the full measure of our weakness. We need not lose heart because He is able to deliver us from whatever difficulty threatens to rob us of our peace. Beause we can trust Him, we need never be afraid to look within.

Today I will meditate on the many ways during my life God has brought good out of my sinfulness.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/020707.shtml

At various times in history church teaching has emphasized human sinfulness. At other times, the emphasis has come down on the side of God’s goodness and love for us. A healthy balance between the two is needed for a healthy spiritual life. On what side do I tend to lean? Is that a healthy place to be?

Action

Just for today let us avoid becoming overwhelmed by our sinfulness. Let us take the good advice of St. Frances de Sales: “If you happen to do something that you regret, be neither astonished nor upset. Accept your failure without wallowing in your weakness. It is tempting to condemn yourself with harsh words and even harsher feelings but this does no good. Having acknowledged your failing, humble yourself quietly before God and try to regain your gentle composure. Say to yourself: ‘There, there, we have made a mistake, but let’s go on now and be more careful.’ Do not be discouraged. God will help and guide you. Every time you fall, do the same. God is more pleased with us getting up quickly after a fall than if we had never fallen at all.”