THE WORD
2 Thes 2,1-3.14-16 / Mt 23, 23-26
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and delity. (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”
IN OTHER WORDS
The importance of inner beauty, pure motivation and charity from the heart, more than an outward show, is central to today’s Gospel. Jesus condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who “meticulously clean the outside of the cup and dish” but inwardly are full of “what they have gotten by violence and selfishness”. For Jesus, what really counts is love from the heart, manifested in the good works for one’s neighbor.
We have modern-day Pharisees too (myself included) like those told in the Gospel. Thanks be to God, we still have the chance to examine ourselves and amend our lives. On reflection, God made me what I am and gave me what I have. How is my gratitude to Him manifested? Do I faithfully use for Him and the mission his gifts to me? Is there an area in my life where I do not acknowledge his sovereignty? May I strive to be guided by what the Holy Scriptures say: “There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before His eyes.” Heb. 4:13; “…He will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people’s minds.”1 Cor. 4: 5; “…The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7.
The Church remembers today St. Rose of Lima, the patroness of Latin America and the secondary patroness of the Philippines. She did not glory in her physical beauty. Her inner beauty was exemplary: a life of charity especially to the poor and the sick, and she did acts of morti cation to please God. May St. Rose of Lima, pray for us.
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Bartolomew who was known to be a doctor in the Jewish law, a dear friend of St. Philip the Apostle. Bartholomew and Nathanael in today’s gospel are the same person under different names. Because Bartholomew was a man “in whom there was no guile,” his mind was open to the truth. He went willingly with Philip to see Christ, and recognized the Savior immediately as the Son of God.
- Fr. Frances Grace Solis, S.Sp.S. | CHS, Tarlac
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
