GOSPEL: LK 11:37-41
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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 accepts invitations to dinner, even those given by Pharisees who, as a group, are largely suspicious of him. Jesus does not shun them but reaches out to them. He even tells people to listen to their teachings since the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses, although he warns people against following their bad examples.
Scrupulosity is one of the Pharisees’ bad examples. Very conscious of their role in society as guardians of the Law, they give more emphasis to form than to essence. Jesus, on his part, insists on what is inside the human person rather than what is seen outside. The Pharisees are meticulous with the ritual of handwashing before dinner, and the host judges Jesus who has failed to do so.
Jesus puts forward “almsgiving” as a remedy to the Pharisees’ self-directed orientation in the practice of faith. To give alms is to depart from one’s self-absorption and to reach out to the poor, hungry, and suffering neighbor.
Jesus does not try to be “diplomatic” with his host. Jesus always moves by the truth rather than by human respect.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
