The WORD today reminds me that what makes a person unclean does not come from the
outside, rather, from the inside.
It
is easy to appear good to other people. Superficial level.
Surface level. Mukhang mabait, mukhang magalang. Mukhang
matulungin. It is easy to organize and attend socio civic activities that
alleviate poverty. It is easy to organize fundraising activities for our less
fortunate brothers and sisters. It is easy to attend prayer gatherings and
appear holy. However, doing these things do not necessarily mean that goodness
is inside the person.
In the gospel, Jesus
warns us not to be like the scribes and Pharisees who are whitewashed tombs.
They look good and clean outside, but dirty inside. It is easy to appear
righteous to others even if the inside - what are in our thoughts, minds and
actions, are filled with evildoing.
God
sees beyond the superficial level.
What makes
us clean, or unclean, comes from the inside. Organizing and attending such
activities with hidden agenda may make no difference in the surface level.
Probably money will still go to the poor even if the intention is not really to
help them, but to build up your reputation. Seems the same, but God
sees what is in our hearts. God sees if our service to him is genuine
or fake. God sees if our worship is pure or not. These things will make us
clean or unclean in God’ eyes.
God is reminding us today
to check our hearts. Check our reasons and intentions for
doing good to others, for worshipping God. Is it really to give back to
God, to share our blessings to others, or just for our personal hidden
agenda? God sees what others cannot, so we always have to pray that we be
guided and our intentions always be pure as we do things for God
Do I always pray that my intentions be pure as I serve God? Do I even reflect to see what my intentions are, or am I satisfied with merely doing things? Do I judge others based on their actions, or do I pray for guidance to discern their intentions?
May
we always check our intentions and our hearts as we do things.
Father
God,
Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding
me that what makes me unclean comes from inside. Lord, sorry for the times I am
contented with superficial goodness. Sorry for focusing on what others see. I
ask that you help me purify my intentions as I serve you, as I do things for
you. I know it is easy to get distracted in this world. May I always put the
focus on you, and may my reason for doing these things be to praise and glorify
you, not myself. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
August 27 2019
Memorial of Saint Monica
Lectionary: 426
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."
No comments:
Post a Comment