One day a rich man gave a basket full of bad and rotten food to a poor man, thinking that he could give something to the less fortunate. The poor man thanked the rich man and left the house with the basket. He emptied the basket of whatever was in it and he cleaned the basket and filled the basket with beautiful flowers. Then he took it to the rich man. The rich man was surprised to see the beautiful flowers. He asked the poor man why he returned it with the beautiful flowers. “I gave you a basket full of rotten food and you are giving it back to me with beautiful flowers.” The poor man looked at the eyes of the rich man and said, “Every human being gives what is in his mind and in his heart. What you gave is what is inside you.” The rich man was deeply moved by what the poor man told him. He understood the very important lesson. It is not only the things in the basket, it also shows what kind of person that rich man is inside. Whatever you give to others always reflects what is in your heart. Kindness and positivity often inspire the same turn while negativity reflects one’s inner state.

We heard what Jesus was telling us in last week’s gospel: “Hear me, all of you and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person.” My dear brothers and sisters, from the fullness of heart the mouth speaks. Whatever is in you will always come out. So therefore, let us keep our hearts and minds clean and practice kindness and mercy in our daily lives. God Bless you all.

Love and prayers,

Fr. Charley