Tuesday, October 15, 2002
28th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Gal 5:1-6
Gospel: Lk 11:37-41
As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to have a meal with him. So he went and sat at table. The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not first wash his hands before dinner. But the Lord said to him, "So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil. Fools! He who made the outside, also made the inside. But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean."
Commentary
Jesus never rejects anyone. His word and his presence are equally open for all. Today a pharisee invites him to dinner. According to the Gospel, the pharisees are his enemies. It does not matter. He enters and seats at table with him. But that does not mean he is lacking courage to say clearly what he thinks. We ought to learn from Jesus to be open to all without rejecting any. But we ought to learn also from him to express what we believe. Without any aggresivity. In a simple way. But with clarity. That's the only way to build community or friendship: with sincere and open dialogue.