Tuesday 23 August 2022

Today is Tuesday the 23rd August, in the 21st week of Ordinary Time.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Inhliziyo Zethu’: ‘You will make my heart pure’. A pure heart is a heart that is open to God, that doesn’t seek its own advantage, but wants whatever God wants. As I enter into prayer today, I ask for that openness of heart. I ask the Lord to lead my heart to him, to guide me in the way he wants me to go.

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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 23:23-26

‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.

Jesus is launching a strong attack on the scribes and Pharisees here. It’s a side of him that we don’t always see in the gospels. What is it that has made him so angry?

It seems that the scribes and Pharisees are careful with small religious obligations, but neglectful of great ones, like justice and mercy. Can you recall times when you found yourself falling into that same trap?

Jesus uses the image of a cup, spotlessly clean outside but filthy inside. Can you see examples of that, in the world around you, in the Church, in the people you are meeting today? Can you see examples in yourself?

As you listen again, notice that even when he’s angry, Jesus still suggests ways in which the people he attacks might improve their lives.

If you’ve noticed any of the faults that Jesus points to, in yourself or in others around you, ask confidently for his help to overcome them.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.