The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082515.cfm) reminds me how important it is to have a clean heart.
Right now, I need to have the car washed. It is very dirty already. Rain and dust is not a good combination for automobiles. However, when I am driving it, everything’s normal. Everything’s fine. This is because even if the car is very dirty outside, the inside is very clean, organized and in the proper state. No matter how dirty the exterior is, the engine and the inside of the car is well taken care of, so the performance of the car is not affected.
God sees what is in our hearts.
In the gospel, Jesus warns us against hypocrites, who appear to be holy in the exterior. However, God knows and can see what’s in our hearts. God knows the real state of our hearts, and he can see behind the superficial actions that other people see. He can see beyond the good deeds we perform in front of others.
In the first reading, we see this lived by the disciples. St Paul wrote that they were working not to please men, but God. He knows that God can see what is their intention for doing these things. God knows what is in their hearts, and God will judge them by their hearts and not just their actions. The psalmist further emphasizes this when he proclaimed that God searched and knows him. Just like right now, God is searching us, and God knows us.
No matter what we do on the surface, no matter what image we project, no matter how well people think of us, God sees beyond all of these. God sees what is in our hearts. He knows the real motives and intentions for our actions. We may get human praise, but that doesn’t mean we get God’s.
May we always be conscious to check our motives for our actions, for God sees what is inside our hearts.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love and serve you. thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I get contented with merely doing good. Sorry for the times I lose my focus, and do good deeds to be praised and be affirmed by others. sorry for losing my focus on you. sorry for doing good for me to feel good. Help me put my heart in the right place, Lord. Help me always focus on you, on doing good and helping others because I see you in them. May my actions always be pleasing to you. amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
August 25, 2015
Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 426
Reading 1 1 Thes 2:1-8
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
Responsorial Psalm PS 139:1-3, 4-6
R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Alleluia Heb 4:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 23:23-26
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
tnx 4 including the related reflections for add'l enlightenment
ReplyDeletewelcome, Danson! God bless you! =)
Delete