October 17, 2017

Gospel: Lk 11:37-41
As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal with him. So he went and sat at table. The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands before dinner. But the Lord said to him, ”So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil. Fools! He who made the outside, also made the inside. But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean.

REFLECTION:
The ”outside and inside of the cup and the dish,” as stated in the gospel, represent the exterior and interior aspects of man. Today, it is evident that there are people who, like Pharisees, are concerned much of their outward appearance but disregard their inner disposition. We should realize that doing something good is not enough, one must do it from the heart. A person could enjoy the esteem of other people by performing acts of charity even if he is not internally disposed; but if such acts are done with right motivation, it is not merely praiseworthy in the eyes of man but also in the eyes of God.
Since for Luke almsgiving constitutes an essential part of the Christian ethical life, he challenges us, especially those who have, to share with those who have not. This connotes doing acts of charity to those in need with pure intent. We are reminded that what makes us clean is not just established ritual practices but crossing boundaries to help those in need. For He who made the outside, also made the inside, and He judges both.