MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 4 AUGUST
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MEMORIAL OF DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY MAJOR IN ROME – FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS – 5th AUGUST
August 5, 2026
TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
4 AUGUST 2026
Matthew 15:1–2, 10–14
At that time, Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat.”
Jesus summoned the crowd and said to them,
“Hear and understand.
It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person; rather, what comes out of the mouth is what defiles.”
Then His disciples approached and said to Him,
“Do You know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what You said?”
He replied,
“Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. If one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
SUMMARY OF THE GOSPEL
The Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples for skipping ritual handwashing. Jesus responds that true defilement comes from evil heart intentions, not unwashed hands, and warns that hypocritical leaders are “blind guides.”
REFLECTION
This reading shifts our focus from external religious rituals to internal purity. Following rules and maintaining appearances mean nothing if our hearts harbor bitterness, pride, or judgment. True holiness requires us to cultivate a clean heart, ensuring our thoughts, words, and actions authentically reflect God’s love.
PRAYER
Lord, purify my heart from the inside out. Help me look past surface-level rituals and focus on loving others sincerely. Cleanse my thoughts and words, heal my wounds and guide me so I never become blind to my own faults. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen
