In today’s first reading, we read the story of God forming man from dust and breathing life into him. This act paves the way for a relationship between God and his creation. In the garden of Eden, amidst the beauty and abundance, there is also a prohibition against eating from the tree of knowledge. It is a reminder that with freedom comes responsibility – our choices can lead to life or death, depending on how we honor the boundaries set by God. Our relationship with God underscores the responsibilities that accompany our freedom. We should respect divine limits as there are consequences for our choices. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches that defilement is not through external sources like food but from one’s inner thoughts. This is a revolutionary teaching because it emphasizes moral integrity over ritual observances. Today, let us examine our hearts and ensure that our external religious practices match our internal disposition.

PRAYER: Abba Father, you who breathed life into dust, teach me the way to your heart and guide me in your wisdom. Amen.