Gospel 

Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken,

a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.

He entered and reclined at table to eat.

The Pharisee was amazed to see

that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.

The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees!

Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,

inside you are filled with plunder and evil.

You fools!

Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?

But as to what is within, give alms,

and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Reflection

In order to understand the life of the Pharisees that Jesus was so anxious to expose was the fact that there was a way in which they were called to always be clean, never unclean, and there were all these rituals that went to make them clean. And Jesus knows them and knows at the heart of their very being there is a problem.

It's greed. It's wanting power. It's wanting control. It's so interesting that he says in such a simple way, you know, if you would just get past all of this, focus on yourself and your power and be generous. Give it away. Understand who I can be in you, making you so rich and so powerful.

Closing Prayer

Father, bless us always, with a generous, open heart. When we are open to you, we are open to one another. We have compassion. We have understanding. Bless us with not being caught up so much in ourselves, in our roles, in our positions, but make us more like you. Compassionate and understanding. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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