Give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you
Published Oct 11, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
In today’s Gospel, Jesus denounces the legalistic practices of the Pharisees whose concerns focus on externalities. Because of such practices, they are no longer able to exercise the benevolent goodwill that is inherent in every human person. Jesus invites them to give alms so that everything would be clean for them. What does this mean? The Greek word for alms is eleēmosunē, which may also refer to an exercise of benevolent goodwill.
In the Gospel, a Pharisee invites Jesus to dine at his home, while at the same time looks at Jesus not in terms of goodwill, but in terms of ritual observance. Moreover, we often associate the act of almsgiving with the things that are given that at times we are not able to check on our motivation whenever we give something to anyone who is in need. When we give, there should be no other motivation but the love that truly cleanses the heart.
Do we check on our motivation whenever we give? How do we concretize goodwill? Is ritual observance our primary concern, or is it the welfare of others?
Gospel • Luke 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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus denounces the legalistic practices of the Pharisees whose concerns focus on externalities. Because of such practices, they are no longer able to exercise the benevolent goodwill that is inherent in every human person. Jesus invites them to give alms so that everything would be clean for them. What does this mean? The Greek word for alms is eleēmosunē, which may also refer to an exercise of benevolent goodwill.
In the Gospel, a Pharisee invites Jesus to dine at his home, while at the same time looks at Jesus not in terms of goodwill, but in terms of ritual observance. Moreover, we often associate the act of almsgiving with the things that are given that at times we are not able to check on our motivation whenever we give something to anyone who is in need. When we give, there should be no other motivation but the love that truly cleanses the heart.
Do we check on our motivation whenever we give? How do we concretize goodwill? Is ritual observance our primary concern, or is it the welfare of others?
Gospel • Luke 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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.