Too focused

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile." (Mark 7: 1-8.14-15.21-23)

The scribes and Pharisees deluded themselves into thinking they were pleasing to God by merely performing acts of devotion. Being too focused on the external observance of precepts and traditions, they did not understand that this is not enough to save their souls. We must first surrender ourselves trustfully to Jesus, thanking Him for the gifts with which He gives us every day, and then do His will joyfully. Carefully reread word for word what Jesus says in today's Gospel about what emanates from people's hearts as evil intentions and ask yourself whether you have committed those sins in the last week. Then go to your regular confessor and confess the sins you have committed.