SPIRITUAL HEALTH

1 kings 10:1-10; Ps 37 The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom; Mark 7:14-23

"Each Christian and every community must discern the path the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the "peripheries" in need of the light of the Gospel.  The gospel joy which enlivens the community of disciples is a missionary joy….The Church which "goes forth" is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice…we can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads and to become involved…"  Pope Francis


"But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.  From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly…"


The above two passages give us a hint as to what to  recognize in regards to spiritual healthiness.

JEsus points out the obvious symptoms of spiritual illness.  A long list of symptoms that speak of stench of the heart and erosion of true value and worth.

The list is a cesspool  that cries out for a need for healing.

Pope Francis gives us another look at to spiritual health.  A sense of missionary joy, a joyful desire to go forth from one's comfort zone to be involved and supportive, to stand at the cross roads and be involved.

True Spiritual health requires a stretching forth to fill the world around us with joyful rejoicing at the news of another, Jesus.  Spiritual malady is when we ourselves become the focal point.

Where are we?  Which do we relate?