Reflect today on how easily the beauty of your inner life shines

Da Paolo Tessione - August 25, 2020

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. Clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are filled with looting and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside is also clean ”. Matthew 23: 25-26

While these very direct words of Jesus may seem harsh, they are truly words of mercy. They are words of mercy because Jesus is doing everything to help the Pharisees understand that they need to repent and purify their hearts. Although the opening message “Woe to you” may jump on us, the real message we should hear is “cleanse the inside first”.

What this passage reveals is that it is possible to be in one of two conditions. First, it is possible that one's inside is filled with “plunder and self-indulgence” while, at the same time, the outside gives the impression of being pure and holy. This was the problem of the Pharisees. They were very concerned about how they looked on the outside, but paid little attention to the interior. This is a problem.

Second, Jesus' words reveal that the ideal is to start with an inner cleansing. Once this happens, the effect will be that the outside will be clean and bright too. Think of the person in this second condition, the one who is first purified internally. This person is an inspiration and a beautiful soul. And the great thing is that when one's heart is authentically purified and purified, this inner beauty cannot be contained within. It has to shine and others will notice.

Reflect today on how easily the beauty of your inner life shines. Do others see it? Does your heart shine? Are you radiant? If not, perhaps you too need to hear these words that Jesus said to the Pharisees. You may also need to be chastised out of love and mercy so that you are motivated to allow Jesus to come in and act in a powerfully cleansing way.

Lord, please come into my heart and purify me completely. Purify me and allow that purity and holiness to shine out in a radiant way. Jesus I believe in you.