Daily Reflection Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were the religious leaders. They made the rules that others had to follow. Jesus challenged the Pharisees on a regular basis and in today’s gospel he is calling them out. He wanted them to realize it was more important to be clean on the inside than to give the appearance of being clean on the outside. Then in verse 41 Jesus tells them to be charitable. In several of the chapters in Luke’s gospel Jesus is dining with and rebuking the Pharisees. In chapter 5 when they ask why he eats with sinners and tax collectors he reminds them that “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.” In chapter 7 he pardons the sinful woman and in chapter 14 he heals a man on the Sabbath. All these things were done at a meal, and all were against the rules that the Pharisees set in place. What Jesus did was more important than what the Pharisees appeared to do. Everything Jesus did was in care and LOVE of another.  Forgiveness and love were forefront in all his teachings. 

    This past Sunday I had the pleasure of attending the Diocese of Paterson Vivere Christus Est award ceremony. This award, also referred to as Christ is alive, was instituted in 2009 and it is given to those who are the visible Body of Christ. Each parish or religious institution in the diocese can nominate someone from their community for the award. There were single men and women, couples, and entire families receiving the award. I was there to cheer on three couples that I personally knew. While these three couples did not know each other they were very much alike. When congratulating each of them they all said they were surprised, and they all said they could think of others who were more deserving. That right there is all you need to know about these loving, selfless, humble souls. They practice what Jesus preached. They are not like the Pharisees in today’s gospel reading.

    Everything they do is in care and LOVE of others. They share their time and talents in helping others and the beauty of each of them is that they do not see anything special about what they do. This is exactly what Jesus wants of all of us. He wants us to love each other. He gives us all we need to do this. He gives us his words in the gospel and gives us his love and strength in the Eucharist. 

 "But as to what is within, give alms and behold, everything will be clean for you." All God cares about is how we are on in the inside not how we appear to be on the outside.