“Oh you, Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” – Luke 11:39

       When Dad had lung cancer, I became his primary caregiver. To my mom and my younger brothers, I was a strong person they could rely on. They also saw me as a good listener with whom they can unload the emotions that overwhelmed them at seeing Dad deteriorate each day. They were wrong. They had no idea what was going on within me, how helpless and useless I felt because there was nothing I could do to “save” Dad. They didn’t sense how angry I was at the doctors and nurses who just “went through the motions” because Dad was dying. They didn’t see how I broke down in tears when I was alone.

     Call me a hypocrite but who I really was that time was a weak, fatigued, emotionally-drained version of myself. I didn’t want to add to my family’s burden so I put on my “strong woman” mask. The only time I showed my true self was when I would pray to Jesus. With Him, it was safe for me to cry, to feel because there was no judgment or rejection; only compassion and perfect love. Dina Marie Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

Reflection: “We have the choice of two identities: the external mask which seems to be real and the hidden, inner person who seems to us to be nothing, but who can give himself eternally to the truth in whom he subsists.” (Thomas Merton)

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. (Serenity Prayer)

Paul realizes that salvation depends on grace and not merely on following the Law. As disciples of Jesus, we must learn to surrender our lives to this grace and allow the Holy Spirit to show us how to live. The Law is still a guide, but the Spirit will help us understand the Law based on our individual situations. This is what Paul means when he says that we live by the Spirit and not the flesh.

1 Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. 2 It is I, Paul, who am telling you that if you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Once again I declare to every man who has himself circumcised that he is bound to observe the entire law. 4 You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Psalm 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48

R: Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.

41 Let your mercy come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise. (R) 43 Take not the word of truth from my mouth, for in your ordinances is my hope. (R) 44 And I will keep your law continually, forever and ever. (R) 45 And I will walk at liberty, because I seek your precepts. (R) 47 And I will delight in your commands, which I love. (R) 48 And I will lift up my hands to your commands and meditate on your statutes. (R)

Jesus serves His disciples. Each time we celebrate the sacraments, Jesus gives Himself to us for our own sustenance, healing and growth. He has come to serve, not to be served, and this is how He lived His life. Jesus does not demand that His divinity be acknowledged — He does what His Father asks Him to do.  We should follow His lead and serve whether we are recognized or not for our service.

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

37 After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. 38 The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. 39 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. 40 You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? 41 But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

think: Jesus has come to serve, not to be served, and this is how He lived His life.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Amos 7-9

IT’S THE HEART THAT MATTERS

The Pharisee was not a totally bad person. For one, he was hospitable. He invited the Lord to dinner at home. He was a gracious host. He knew how to mind his p’s and q’s. He had manners. He knew the rules. He had class. He showed the right etiquette for the occasion.

       But he was focused on something more than crossing his t’s. I don’t know whether he invited the Lord solely to test his manners, but I could assume he was on the lookout to see whether the Lord was prim and proper. And it did not have to do with worldly issues like table manners alone.

       He was there to check whether the Lord was obedient enough to what the law prescribed. From the unnamed Pharisee’s point of view, the Lord was weighed and found wanting. Luke, who reports the story, was politically correct and rather conciliatory when he used the word “amazed” to describe how the Pharisee reacted at seeing his guest fail to comply with the prescribed washing before eating.

       We are like that Pharisee. We observe much of the conventional rules — something not bad in itself, except that we are preoccupied about looking over our shoulders to see who in our midst does not seem to make the cut.

     But of course, it is not that those who get the prescribed cut (circumcision) automatically becomes the righteous one, through and through. Men (and especially Pharisees) might look at the externals, but God definitely looks at the heart, at what’s within. To use Paul’s own words, it is not externals that count, “but only faith working through love.”

       Last year, the story of a famous chef who went inside a car dealer’s shop went viral. Since he was dressed rather simply, no one took him seriously. No one bothered to take a second look at him. So he went to the competitor’s shop right across the street and bought an expensive truck.

       Today, the Lord reminds us to look at what’s invisible to the eye. And there’s more to it than just empty external rituals. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you practice rituals that were just passed on to you by some people? Do you know the purpose of those rituals?

Thank You for reminding me today, Lord, that what’s more important is what’s within. Purify my thoughts and motivations, Lord. Amen.