August 28, 2018

Gospel: Mt 23:23-26
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You do not forget the mint, anise and cumin seeds when you demand the tenth of everything; but then, you forget what is most fundamental in the law: justice, mercy and faith! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a mosquito, but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You fill the plate and the cup, with theft and violence, and then pronounce a blessing over them. Blind Pharisee! Purify the inside first, then the outside, too, will be purified.

Reflections
Purify the inside first, then the outside, too, will be purified Augustine, the restless soul, sought for meaning in his life by giving in to his appetites and pursuing his carnal desires, which left him empty. He temporarily found meaning in Manichaeism, a dualistic philosophy and way of life that, through reason and will power, promoted an ascetical life. However, he did not find peace in such moral gymnastics — until he encountered Jesus through the Gospels and the preaching of St. Ambrose. He ultimately found peace and joy, truth and meaning not in his commitment to a philosophy but in his relationship with Jesus Christ.

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