Tarsish Marak csc –
Readings: Rom 1:16-25; Lk 11:37-41
The gospel reading of today speaks about the nature of faith and righteousness.
In this passage, Jesus is invited to dine at the home of a Pharisee, and the Pharisee is surprised that Jesus did not ceremonially wash before the meal. Jesus took this moment to convey a profound message about the importance of inner purity and the true essence of righteousness. He criticized the Pharisees for their passion with outward appearances and rituals while neglecting the condition of their hearts. Jesus compared them to whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of hypocrisy and wickedness inside.
Therefore, Jesus reminds us that God values not just our outward actions but also our intentions and the state of our hearts. He challenges us to examine our own lives and question whether our faith is superficial, or it truly transforms our inner selves. It encourages us to seek righteousness from within, rather than merely clinging on to external religious customs.
Let us pray for the grace to cultivate a genuine and sincere relationship with God, where our actions support our beliefs, our hearts pure and humble. It’s a call to live a life of authenticity and integrity, recognizing that true righteousness begins in the heart.