Readings:
Galatians 5:1-6
Luke 11:37-41
Reflection:
One of the interesting things in Luke is that Jesus is invited to dine by the Pharisees. They are considered the good people who keep the laws and teach others to do the same. However, they are keen to keep their eyes on others, not for caring but for judging.
The second of the three times that Jesus is judged happens in the Gospel today when Jesus has just finished speaking. The meal ‘at home’ is not a great time again with the observation by the Pharisees of the same thing that happened the first time. Instead of focusing on hospitality with welcoming and conversation, the Pharisee ‘watches’ Jesus and is surprised because he does not practise ‘the custom’ of typically washing hands before a meal. Clearly, the Pharisee is a ‘watcher man’ not for warning or protecting but for criticising.
Encountering this attitude, Jesus invites the Pharisees and us to watch and balance by focusing on the whole thing. What is hard to see and acknowledge is the inside of the people. This site needs to be watched and cleaned, too. Therefore, everything will be clean, not only on the outside but also on the inside. Don’t let the shining outside cover the ‘darkness’ or ‘real’ thing inside.
Let’s pray and act that everything should be considered as a whole, not just a part of the outside or the inside
JD Tân T CP is a Vietnamese Passionist who lives and studies further at the Holy Cross Retreat, Templestowe.