First reading Romans 1:16-25
These people knew God and failed to honour him
I am not ashamed of the Good News: it is the power of God saving all who have faith – Jews first, but Greeks as well – since this is what reveals the justice of God to us: it shows how faith leads to faith, or as scripture says: The upright man finds life through faith.
The anger of God is being revealed from heaven against all the impiety and depravity of men who keep truth imprisoned in their wickedness. For what can be known about God is perfectly plain to them since God himself has made it plain. Ever since God created the world his everlasting power and deity – however invisible – have been there for the mind to see in the things he has made. That is why such people are without excuse: they knew God and yet refused to honour him as God or to thank him; instead, they made nonsense out of logic and their empty minds were darkened. The more they called themselves philosophers, the more stupid they grew, until they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, for the image of mortal man, of birds, of quadrupeds and reptiles. That is why God left them to their filthy enjoyments and the practices with which they dishonour their own bodies, since they have given up divine truth for a lie and have worshipped and served creatures instead of the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen!
Responsorial Psalm 18(19):2-5
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
Gospel Luke 11:37-41
Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean
Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’
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Happy are the pure in heart
In today’s gospel, Jesus was invited by a Pharisee to dine at his house. The host was surprised that Jesus did not wash His hands before the meal. Jesus told him, “You Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools!”. Jesus wanted to point to the Pharisees and His listeners that one must be concerned not just with external cleanliness but more so with internal, deeper cleanliness, i.e., the purity of the heart. In the end, Jesus said, “…give alms from what you have and, look, everything will be clean for you”. A way to have a pure heart is to be generous with the people around us, especially with those in need.
God looks at our hearts. Let us today dare to examine our hearts and ask ourselves honestly, “How is my heart?”. May we try to walk the path of love and generously give ourselves to serve those people around us.
Reflective question:
How is my heart?
How is my heart?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
