And then he added, "It is the thought-life that defiles you.  For from within, out of a person'sheart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness,deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vilethings come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God."

"It is the thought-life that defiles you," Jesus declared to his disciples.  To a culture bound by rituals and rules that, for many, had become detached from true worship, Jesus' words must have been both liberating and unsettling.  They were liberating because they freed people from the fear of defiling themselves by failing to observe all the many laws of ritual purity.  They were unsettling because the people could no longer hide their sinful hearts behind a shiny veneer of legalistic obedience.  God desires pure hearts.  When we harbor sinful thoughts, our worship becomes empty and unpleasing to God.  Let us ask God to transform the way we think (Romans 12:2) so that we may offer him pure worship. 

Prayer for the week:  Holy Father, we thank you for your promise to put your law in our mind and to write it on our heart.  Root out sinful thoughts from our mind, and give us a pure heart so that we may meditate on the things that please you.  Amen.