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.”
REFLECTION
My AC unit had stopped cooling at the end of August. The heat index was 105 degrees and inside the house was 89 degrees. The company I called first had advertised a special on repairs. The salesman came to investigate the problem and to give me a price for the solution.
The salesman was dressed in slacks and collared shirt and was personable. He began to explain that my unit was unrepairable and that he could give me a good price to replace it. Then he showed me three choices to consider. All the choices were more than I could afford. He assured me he could have it replaced within a day. I thanked him and told him that I had to think about his offer. He was confident that I would call him back.
The next company I called was local and they had replaced my other unit years ago. They sent one of the owners out that afternoon to give their estimate. He was dressed in blue jeans and a t-shirt. He gave me an estimate on replacing only the AC portion of the unit which saved me a lot of money. He said that he would begin the next morning. I agreed. He came and did the job.
Appearances are impressionable, but the intentions of the person are more important.
Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking without them saying it.
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?
The Pharisees were judging Jesus as a Jew and not seeing Him as God. Jesus knew that they appeared to be law-abiding Jews, but they penalized the people to pay themselves homage. Their intentions "are filled with plunder and evil."
St. Teresa of Jesus reformed the Carmelite Order. She reformed herself first. Then she worked with the community one monastery at a time. Her intentions were loving and compassionate.
Let us pray for one another to be fair and just to others.
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