Out of the heart

Mark 7: 1- 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 23

All these evil things come from within...

Jesus teaches us clearly about our "hidden heart" as he reprimands the Pharisees. It is clear that there is a reservoir of this "stuff" inside us - waiting to come out the moment something or someone brushes us up the wrong way. Imagine, or rather recall the many 'moments' (not so memorable) when one of the 'evil things' came up in our lives. And they come up from all Christians alike - no respecter of 'how theologically correct' we are. For we can be wonderfully right in terms of what we profess (as the Pharisees were so careful not to defile themselves in eating, so are we careful not to defile ourselves with 'wrong doctrine'), but still be at a loss how to deal with this "hidden heart". We wish to live holy lives, yet the lack of wholeness (i.e. our brokenness) stumbles us.

Jesus says, "look inside" for there lies the "stuff". No amount of positive Scriptural affirmations alone will make it all disappear. There is a huge "pool of stuff" that we carry with us through life. In his mercy, God frees us from some of these when we become Christians. But there are usually still many things we ourselves sense remain in there. Sometimes we do not know how to address this "inner stuff". Some Christians are afraid of what they think is too 'psychological' an approach.

There is no one way that the Holy Spirit brings healing and holiness. Many Christians have found help through the incarnational ministries of pastoral counselling, therapy, spiritual mentoring and so on. Others have found help in more informal communities of spiritual friendships. Whatever the specific means God uses, it usually involves "opening the hidden heart" - recognizing and naming what we find there, and then in dependence seeking the transforming power of the Spirit.

First and foremost, we have to admit that what was meant for the Jewish Pharisees of Jesus' day is also a message for Christian- Pharisees today.