Beyond Superficial

The WORD today reminds me that I should work to be clean beyond the superficial level. 

There is a saying that “you are what you eat.” If you eat healthy food, you eventually become healthy. If you eat unhealthy, oily and fatty food, you will become unhealthy and fatty as well. This is because what we take in from outside makes what we are inside, and what we are inside manifests outside as well.

This is what Jesus was talking about in the gospel. The Pharisees were hypocrites, cleaning the outside appearance but are very dirty inside. Their focus was on the outside, following the laws and traditions, rather than cleaning their lives from inside. They were more concerned on the strict observance of the law, rather than learn the real meaning of it through Jesus.

Cleaning the inside is more difficult, but more effective. 

Being clean outside can easily be disturbed. Madaling madumihan sa labas. But what is inside, if clean, cannot be easily dirtied. It takes more time cleaning what is inside, our values, our way of living, our faith - but if they are clean, they will be manifested on the outside. On how we treat each other. On how we live. This is what God wants from us.

What do I prioritize in life, the outside which is easily seen and can be easily cleaned, or the inside, which is harder to clean but more important? Do I love and serve God more than the superficial level? What do I do to improve my relationship with Him?

May we remember that whatever is inside, whatever we are trying to hide, will eventually be manifested outside. And may we focus on cleaning the inside, the core, the important things - and not just what is visible outside. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for loving me so much and for blessing me even if I do not deserve them. Lord, Sorry for the times I focus on the outside and how other people see me. Sorry for being superficial. Sorry for not spending the time and effort to clean the inside, to clean my heart and soul, which is more important for you. Help me do it right. Help me know what is important. May I work on cleaning the inside of my heart, of my life, rather than work on the things other people readily see. As I clean my life, may I be transformed to become more like you. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/10/from-inside.html

Daily Readings

• OCTOBER 11, 2021
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Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 468

Reading I

Rom 1:16-25

Brothers and sisters:
I am not ashamed of the Gospel.
It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
for Jew first, and then Greek.
For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith;
as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.”

The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven
against every impiety and wickedness
of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
For what can be known about God is evident to them,
because God made it evident to them.
Ever since the creation of the world,
his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity
have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.
As a result, they have no excuse;
for although they knew God
they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks.
Instead, they became vain in their reasoning,
and their senseless minds were darkened.
While claiming to be wise, they became fools
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God
for the likeness of an image of mortal man
or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.

Therefore, God handed them over to impurity
through the lusts of their hearts
for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie
and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator,
who is blessed forever. Amen. 

Responsorial Psalm

19:2-3, 4-5

R.    (2a) The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
    and night to night imparts knowledge.
R.    The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
Not a word nor a discourse
    whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
    and to the ends of the world, their message.
R.    The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

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.

Gospel

Lk 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.”