How Did You Get Dirty?

Some people saw that Jesus' followers weren't
obeying one of their laws: They didn't wash their
hands before they ate. "Why not?" the people asked. Jesus answered, "You've made laws out of habits.
Those laws didn't come from God." Having dirty
hands wouldn't hurt, Jesus added: "What hurts
people doesn't come from the outside, but from
inside their hearts, where they sin."

Sometimes you get ready for bed at night and your parents just groan, "How did you get so dirty?" You have stains on your clothes, something sticky in your hair and your hands are just gross. You have no idea what happened, either!

Even when your parents complain about your dirty clothes and your need for a bath, they know it's just dirt and that dirt washes off. Sit in the bubbles for a while in the bathtub, and you're all set!

This week's Gospel (Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23) is about another way of getting dirty: the way you're not "clean with God" when you're not being good. 

People in Jesus' time worried a lot about being clean - so much that they made laws about washing their hands! They didn't have the medicines we have now, so dirt made them worry about getting sick.

Jesus didn't flip out about that. Like your parents, He knew that washing up and doing laundry will get your body and clothes clean, but what's more important is being clean inside.

Following God and doing your best to be good gives you a "clean heart." When you mess up, apologizing and going to Reconciliation are ways of getting clean from those sins again.

You start every day as a clean kid. Whether your body or soul get dirty, it's always easy to clean up!

(08/27/09)