Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel; Venerable Father Stephen the Sabbaite (9th c.); Holy Father Julian, Bishop of Kenomane.
1 Corinthians 7:24-35; Matthew 15:12-21.
Read Matthew 15:12-21
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
In the ascetic tradition of the Fathers, a distinction is sometimes drawn between the mind the and heart. This is not a distinction between reason and feelings, as is sometimes understood in contemporary usage, rather it is a distinction between the mind which is the seat of thoughts and feelings, and the heart – the seat of a deeper awareness, operation or intuition – sometimes called the eye of the soul or the nous.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus explains to us that it is that which comes forth from from the heart – vile thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander – that truly defiles a person, as opposed to a simple failure to perform specific ritual actions.
People who intuitively operate in such ways as Christ describes in this passage, are not operating from an awareness of the presence of God within themselves, in others or in the world. They cannot see that God is everywhere present and fills all things, rather the eye of their soul is truly bad and thus their whole body, all of their actions, full of darkness (Matthew 6:23)
The purification of the heart is an essential condition for union with God- which is the goal of the Christian life. St. Gregory of Nyssa explains that “ The man who purifies the eye of his soul will enjoy an immediate vision of God . . . it is the same lesson taught by the Word when He said, “The Kingdom of God is within you”. This teaches us that the man who purifies his heart of every passionate impulse will see the image of the divine nature in his own beauty. You must then wash away, by a life of virtue, the dirt which has clung to your heart like plaster, and then your divine beauty will once again shine forth” (On the Beatitudes, Sermon 6).
This purification is the true goal of the asectic traditions of the Church. All of our fasting, vigils, standing in prayer, bowing, prostrations – these are not for the sake of simply fulfilling a ritual action – this is attitude Jesus is condemning, not the traditions themselves.
Let us learn then what are the things that defile the man; let us learn, and let us flee them. For even in the church we see such a custom prevailing among the generality, and men giving diligence to come in clean garments, and to have their hands washed; but how to present a clean soul to God, they make no account. And this I say, not forbidding them to wash hands or mouth; but willing men so to wash as is meet, not with water only, but instead of water, with all virtues…Weep, groan, give alms, apologize to him that is affronted, reconcile him to yourself hereby, wipe clean your tongue…watch your tongue more than the apple of your eye…teach it to pace orderly, the King will rest and take His seat thereon – St John Chrysostom (Homily 51 on Matthew)