DRIVING AWAY ALL HYPOCRISY! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Tuesday, 17^thOctober 2017,

Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Rom 1: 16-25;

Ps 19: 2-5 (R) 2;

Lk 11: 37-41.

DRIVING AWAY ALL HYPOCRISY!

The Pharisees thought of themselves as clean by practicing customs and traditional practices. They divided the society into clean and unclean, claiming themselves to be clean and the Gentiles as unclean. Through their man-made rules and regulations they shut the kingdom of God to the ‘unclean’. They tried to appear clean while their hearts were full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Their pride led them to become obsessed with their external appearance of righteousness. Sadly, their external appearance was only a mask over the “plunder and evil” that consumed them from within. For that reason Jesus calls them “fools.”

The same can be true for all of us at times. Each one of us can struggle with being far more concerned about our public image than about the sanctity of our souls. But what is more important? What’s important is that which God sees within. God sees our intentions and all that is deep within our consciences. He sees our motivations, our virtues, our sins, our attachments, and everything hidden from the eyes of others. We, too, are invited to see that which Jesus sees. We are invited to look at our souls in the light of truth.

Reflect, today, upon your soul. Do not be afraid to look at it in the light of truth and to see your life as God sees it. This is the first and most important step in becoming truly holy. And it’s not only the way to cleanse our souls, it’s also the necessary step in allowing our external life to shine brightly with the light of God’s grace.

Prayer: Lord, I want to become holy. I want to be cleansed through and through. Help me to see my soul as You see it and to allow Your grace and mercy to cleanse me in the ways that I need to be cleansed. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.