The Word God Spells

Luke 11:37-41
Rom 1:16-25 / Ps 19

…give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
(Luke 11:41)

No laws or rites can make us clean
If within lies cupidity.
What washes off the stain of sin
Is when we practice charity.

After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. So He went, and immediately reclined at the table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash his hands before dinner, as prescribed by Judaic law. Knowing his thoughts, Jesus said to him, “Oh, you Pharisees! You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the Creator Who made the outside make the inside also? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Reflection

Our Lord had a good reason for deliberately avoiding the ceremonial washing of the hands before the meal, which offended His host, a pharisee. And then, as if to add insult to injury, Jesus chided him for their uncleanness of heart. The truth must really have hurt, because, being omniscient, Jesus knew the pharisees’ evil thoughts — their pride, greed, arrogance, envy, and hypocrisy. But our Lord had a good reason for being painfully candid to His host; He wanted to make him see that he didn’t have to remain in that tainted state. As a spiritual leader of the people, what he needed to do was to give alms, and “everything will be clean for you.” Jesus offered him this opportunity to repent, quoting scriptures quite aptly: “As water quenches a flaming fire, so almsgiving obtains pardon for sins” (Sir.3:30). No external ritual can clean our conscience; only acts of charity, like being generous to the poor.

What outward form of piety can ever make our heart righteous? “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” (Mt.15:19-20.) The pharisees needed to be severely censured, if only to open their eyes to the reality that washing the vessels of their bodies made no difference if their hearts and souls remained unclean, because nothing could be hidden from the One Who created them. “For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Unfortunately, instead of heeding the call of Jesus for repentance and atonement of their sins, the hearts of the pharisees hardened with envy and vengeance instead. Pride had prevented them from examining their conscience and cleaning their hearts.

Lord, fill me with your love and increase my thirst for holiness. Cleanse my heart of every evil thought and desire and fill it instead with Your love for the poor. Amen.