Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes. Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
“But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
Fr. Pedro IGLESIAS Martínez (Ripollet, Barcelona, Spain)Today, the evangelist places Jesus at a dinner table: “A Pharisee invited him to dine at his home” (Lk 11:37). What an interesting idea that turned out to be! One can only imagine the host’s expression when his guest ignored the ritual washing custom (which was not a commandment of the Law but a tradition of the ancient rabbis) and then boldly reproached both him and his whole social group. That Pharisee chose the wrong day for his invitation—and Jesus’ behavior, as we might say today, was far from “politically correct.”
The Gospels show us that the Lord cared little about appearances or what people might say; “political correctness” was never His concern. And for that reason, neither should it be the rule of conduct for anyone who calls himself a Christian. Jesus clearly condemns the kind of double standard that masks convenience or deceit: “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools!” (Lk 11:39). As always, God’s Word challenges the customs of our daily life, where we often end up turning falsehoods into “values” that disguise our pride, selfishness, and vanity—an attempt to “globalize” morality under what is socially acceptable, so as not to stand out or be left out, no matter the cost, no matter how dark it leaves our soul. After all, we tell ourselves, “everyone does it.”
Saint Basil said: “there is nothing which a prudent man must shun more carefully than living with a view to popularity.” If we are to be witnesses of Christ, we must remember that the truth is—and will always remain—the truth, even when it rains down spears upon us. This is our mission among the people we live with: to remain clean in spirit, following the model of humanity that God reveals to us in Christ.
True purity of heart goes far beyond social appearances. And if ever doubt arises, let us remember the Lord’s promise: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” Each of us must decide where to set our gaze—for time, and for all eternity.
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
"Things seem less difficult to us when we see them done in others" (Saint Ambrose)
"Faith goes first of all from the word to the idea, but it always has to return from the idea to the word and to the action" (Benedict XVI)
"Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues..." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nº 2.223)
