Pure and Undefiled Faith

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on August 26, 2021

We spent the last five Sundays reflecting on the life-giving Bread of Life Discourse in the sixth chapter of John. We now resume reading from the Gospel of Mark (chapter 7:1-8,14-15, 21-23) and as we do, we are offered a contrast between legalistic external religion and pure, authentic faith emanating from the heart. The Pharisees and scribes approach Jesus and question him, “why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” They were not accusing the disciples of poor hygiene. They were casting judgment on the disciples for not adhering to an extensive washing ritual prescribed by the tradition of the elders. We sense how much the Pharisees doubted Jesus. How could Jesus be the righteous Son of God if He and His disciples failed to follow the Laws of Moses and the traditions of the elders?  In their eyes, failing to follow the religious rituals would make a person defiled, impure, unrighteous, and unfit for worship in God’s presence.

Jesus responded strongly to the Pharisees’ thinking, calling them hypocrites, people who deceive themselves by living dual lives: an outward appearance of righteousness alongside an interior life in which hearts are not submitted to God but overtaken by defiling thoughts. Jesus declared that the condition of the human heart is of the greatest importance for “nothing that enters the from outside can defile that person, but the things that come from within are what defile.”  God sees our hearts and discerns when our faith is merely lip service while our hearts are distanced from Him. Jesus came to show that God is not distant, but desires to reside in our hearts, empowering us to experience and embody His love. By doing so we may authentically live out a pure and undefiled faith, causing love instead of evil to flow from the heart outwards,  

 His Spirit is with us as we strive for true, ongoing conversion of the heart in which our interior intentions and external actions become unified.  A conversion of the heart enables us to be so embedded in Christ’s ways, that instead of critically judging the spirituality of others, we attract others to Christ by living His way of love in word and deed.  May we open our hearts and invite Christ’s indwelling Spirit of love to enter in. May we “welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save our souls.” (James 1:21) Amen.

Tags: love, faith, heart, faithful, action, intention, authentically

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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