October 13
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Today’s Gospel:
Luke 11:37-41
(Clean on the Inside)
“While
he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so, he went in and sat
at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before
dinner. And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside
of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion
and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside
also? But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything
is clean for you.”
Reflection:
Which matters more: clean hands or a clean heart? Both matter. But the
inside matters most. Inside each of us is a mind, a heart, and a soul. If those
are dirty, that offends more than unwashed hands ever could. Jesus knew what He
was doing with the Pharisees. His lesson was well taught, and it’s meant for
anyone who reads it. Greed, pride, bitterness, envy, and arrogance all grow from
an unclean heart.
Jesus asks us to give from “those things which are within.” So, the inside
needs to be right with God. Keep your heart pure and fixed on God, and on love;
if you do, mercy and compassion will follow. We will then start to put others
first, and it won’t feel like a burden. We can’t do this alone, though; we have
to let God cleanse us and change us, one day at a time.
How can we get there? Through daily prayer. Mass as often as possible, not just
Sunday. Monthly Confession is a good start. Adoration: try to give 1 hour per
week to start. And Scripture: fall in love with Scripture, get to really know
your Bible. Fellowship with friends in faith. Maybe not all at once, but at
least begin. What really counts is your time with Jesus and Mary every day. I’m
praying for all of you. Talk to you tomorrow.
What are you spending time in your lives doing today? Is it something you’d be
glad to share with other people you love? What is one thing you can add today
to make it purer?
Rosary Man Jim 🌹
Freely given. Freely
shared.
