The WORD today still reminds me how important it is to be clean inside.
It is easy to clean the outside. This is true with cars. There are a lot of carwash which provide cleaning services. And its relatively cheap. You don't even need to go to a carwash. You can clean the car at home, and it won't take a lot of time and effort. However, what requires more time and effort is cleaning the inside of the car - the interior, the engine, among other things. That’s why they charge more for detailing and cleaning services, because it is harder and more time consuming than cleaning just the outside of the car.
This is what Jesus says in the gospel. The gospel is a continuation of yesterday’s. We are still reminded of the importance of what is inside. We should not just focus on being clean outside, like the Pharisees who appear clean outside but very dirty inside. Whitewashed tombs. What is inside is more important than the outside, than what people see.
Being clean inside would eventually be manifested outward.
As with cars, what requires more time and effort and what is really important, is that we are clean from the inside. This is what Jesus wants us to do and to work on, not the easier exterior cleaning.
Being clean outside does not mean that the inside is clean as well. It is easy to seem clean. It's easy to go to the church, go to outreach activities and relief operations, help the less fortunate. It's easy to show others you go to mass, confess and serve. However, this does not guarantee the inner state of the person. Jesus wants us to work harder and clean ourselves from the inside. What are our motives as we do these things? Do we do it for show, or because we really love God so much?
Being clean inside may not be easily seen by others. In fact, it may never be seen by others. So affirmation and praise from people may not come. But God sees everything. God sees the inside - our intentions, motives and values. And having a clean heart, a clean soul, would eventually manifest to the outside. It will show by the way you talk, react, and deal with others.
What do I prioritize - being clean outside, where people can see and affirm, or do I work to clean the inside, the more important although unseen parts? Am I more concerned on pleasing others and getting affirmation and praise, or on pleasing God, no matter how silent and delayed his reward is? What areas of my life do I need to clean?
May we work to have a clean heart, a clean spirit first. Clean and pure motives and intentions. May we pray for these, so that eventually, these things will be manifested in our actions.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I focus on the outside rather than the inside. Sorry for the times I feel contented with looking clean to others. I pray that you help me have a clean heart. Purify my thoughts, purify my spirit, purify my heart, so that my actions would follow what is inside me. May my life be pleasing to you, and may I always give you importance, not other people. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
August 26, 2020
Wednesday of Week 21; St. Elizabeth Bichier
FIRST READING
We instruct you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who walks in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. (1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
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