Labels, Laws, and a Life-Changing Cure
February 12, 2025 - Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 7:14-23
Today’s Gospel gives us a lot to think about. Let’s break it down into three key points.
1. “All foods are clean” – But it’s not about food.
Jesus’ declaration that all foods are clean seems obvious to us, but that’s because we don’t fully grasp its radical meaning. In the biblical world, the division wasn’t just about food—it was about people. Jews and Gentiles were separated as “clean” and “unclean,” and this thinking led to exclusion. Jesus was tearing down that wall. He was making it clear: No person is impure or unworthy. This message still challenges us today. How often do we label others—consciously or unconsciously—as outsiders?
2. The disciples didn’t get it—and neither do we.
Jesus’ own disciples were slow to understand, and this wouldn’t be the last time. Throughout the Gospel of Mark, they struggle to grasp His teachings. Even Peter, who later becomes a leader of the early Church, needed a vision from God (Acts 10) before he was willing to preach to a Gentile. And honestly, not much has changed. We still wrestle with Jesus’ message. But the good news? He is patient. He keeps teaching us, just as He did with them.
3. The real problem is inside us.
Jesus lists sins that come from within—greed, deceit, arrogance, and more. They reveal the sickness of the human heart. The Law of Moses acted like a diagnostic tool, pointing out the problem. Commands like “You shall not steal” and “You shall not murder” were meant to restrain sinful desires. But laws can’t heal—only Jesus can.
That’s why Paul calls the Law a guardian leading us to Christ (Gal 3:24). It makes us aware of our need for something greater. And here’s the best part: the Gospel doesn’t just tell us what’s wrong—it gives us the power to change. Being aware that we “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:24) we humbly accept the Gospel preached to us, believing that it has the power to save us (James 1:21). The grace of the Gospel empowers us to put the word of God into action (James 1:22).
So, here’s the challenge: Are we just hearing God’s word, or are we acting on it? Are we willing to let Jesus transform our hearts? The Law diagnosed the illness, but Jesus is the cure.