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Gospel Reading for October 15, 2024 – Luke 11: 37-41
EXTERNAL PRACTICES
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.”
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Jesus is teaching us what makes a thing important in life. Of course, there is nothing wrong with washing hands before a meal, which was emphasized to us during the pandemic, because it will help us avoid sickness. Jesus did not even defend himself for not washing his hands before the meal. Who knows, he did it purposely to get the chance to point out to the Pharisee that being clean on the outside does not necessarily mean being clean also on the inside. He pointed out their hypocrisy of making people think they are clean and good because of EXTERNAL PRACTICES, when deep inside they were full of plunder and evil, and did not care at all for the poor. Jesus aptly described them in Matthew 23: 4 – “They tie on your backs an oppressive burden of religious obligations and insist that you carry them, but will never lift a finger to help ease your load.”
There are still Pharisees around us and among us, today. Yes, washing of hands before a meal is no longer made part of God’s Law, but sometimes, we use religious practices to make people think we are holy and good, when in fact, what we do in real life is the OPPOSITE.
The ONE AND ONLY TRUE TEST of a Christian is the ability to LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOR!
Your laws O Lord, are perfect. They lead us to the right path.
