PRI Reflections on Scripture • 10-15-24 Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

Gospel

Luke 11:37-41

After Jesus had spoken,

a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.

He entered and reclined at table to eat.

The Pharisee was amazed to see

that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.

The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!

Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,

inside you are filled with plunder and evil.

You fools!

Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?

But as to what is within, give alms,

and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Reflection

Jesus is pointing out something very important about the question of authenticity.

You can act in any way you want, and it may not be connected to who you are, but who you are will always impact how you act. So what Jesus is pointing out, it's a very important thing, is what is going on on the inside, what is going on inside of you when it comes to understanding who you are and why you're here. That's the real work on the inside.

And the outside takes care of itself.

Closing Prayer

Father, it's obvious that you want us to have a heart filled with you, with divinity. This is a gift. It's not something that we can find on our own, but it's something we've received. So open us to the wisdom that God has placed within us. Pay attention to its beauty and its power to save and choose to be authentic. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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