Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Mark (7: 1-13) in which Scribes and Pharisees question Jesus about his disciples not following some of the Jewish traditions.

Fr Paul says today, Jesus teaches us something very important. This story helps us understand that what is inside our hearts is more important than just following rules.

In the Gospel of Mark, we learn that some Pharisees, who were religious leaders, saw Jesus’ disciples eating without washing their hands first. They thought this was wrong and criticized them. But Jesus responded in a surprising way. He told them that it is not just about following rules like washing hands; what really matters is what is in our hearts.

Jesus explained that it is not the food we eat that makes us unclean, but the things that can come from our hearts, like anger, unkindness, or jealousy. This teaches us to think about our feelings and actions. If we feel angry or mean, we need to work on being kind and loving instead.

Today, Fr Paul says, we remember that what is in our hearts is very important. We should always try to be kind and loving to everyone around us.