By Naresh Namindla csc –
Readings: Rom 1: 16-25; Lk 11: 37 – 41
In today’s gospel reading, a Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him at his table. As Jesus sat for dinner, the Pharisee was disturbed that Jesus did not wash his hands before the dinner.
Realizing that, Jesus said to him, ‘you cleanse outside of the cup but inside you are full of greed.’ Jesus advised the Pharisee to keep his heart clean so that what comes out from the clean heart
will do good to others.
In today’s first reading, St. Paul says gospel is the power of God that makes one righteous if we believe it with complete faith. Faith makes one righteous and brings us closer to God. The one
who is closer to God does good to others.
Both the readings of today ask us to believe in the teachings of the gospel. Faith makes our hearts clean and helps us to deepen our faith in Christ. Unlike the Pharisee, we are called to be disturbed when the good things do not come from within us because what comes from within makes the person righteous or unrighteous, a Pharisee or a Samaritan. As Jesus advised the Pharisee to make his heart clean, let us all strive to keep our hearts pure and clean so that we live a life worthy of the gospel.