Fr. Mike’s Daily homily for Tuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle I

Fr. Mike’s Daily homily for Tuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle I

Theme: Sin against charity

By: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches

Homily for Tuesday October 12 2021

Tuesday – Week 28
October 12, 2021
Lk 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.”

The Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner was shocked! The widely popular and most admired Rabbi did not even wash hands before reclining at table. Of course, washing of hands is standard hygienic practice in any culture. But here we are not dealing with hygiene but of ritual washing. Jesus neglected to perform a religious ritual which, though not actually part of the Law, is seriously observed by the pious Jews.

It is, however, very unlikely of Jesus to forget or miss this common practice. But on this occasion, He must have purposely omitted to perform this washing of hands because He wants to make a very important point. So, when the Pharisee expresses dismay at His apparent neglect, Jesus takes the opportunity to draw his attention to the lesson on genuine religion that is not based on external rituals.

There is nothing wrong with external rituals. They have symbolic meaning of something internal. So, if the internal is not there, the external ritual is pointless. The washing of hands is an example. This is a meaningful rite in liturgy. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, in his Catechetical Lectures, said, “You have noticed that the deacon gives the priest water with which to wash…the washing is a symbol, that you ought to be pure of all sinful and lawless deeds.” Otherwise, then, this beautiful ritual loses its value.

This is precisely the point of Jesus. The Pharisee insists on the washing of hands, on external purity. But his inner self is impure, being rashly judgmental and having malicious thoughts against Jesus. Other Pharisees also, in fact, who are similarly meticulous about external rituals, are even plotting to kill Him.

That is why Jesus likens the Pharisees to a cup or dish that is clean outside but dirty inside. A cup or dish that is dirty on the inside will surely contaminate the water or food it contains, causing serious harm to anyone who drinks or eats. Similarly, the Pharisees, because of their hypocrisy, pose grave danger to other people. They are too particular about their external appearances in order to hide the evil inside them: “Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools!”

Instead, Jesus offers a suggestion that will surely help them overcome their inner impurity: “But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” Giving alms, when done with the right intention, is a positive act of kindness to a needy person. It is an action oriented towards others, away from the self. it is, in fact, an act of love and compassion. Hence, it can effectively neutralize selfishness and avarice. It is a much better option than the washing of hands.

Moreover, the Gospel today teaches an important lesson on charity. The Pharisee is quick to judge Jesus, simply because He failed to wash His hands. Indeed, how quick some people are to jump to conclusions. This is definitely a sin against charity.

The problem of this sin is that it is an ʹinternal sinʹ. No one sees it, but it is injurious and pernicious nonetheless, just like any other sin. And worse, on account of this, people do not seriously fight against it. But the Lord strongly warns: “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned” (Lk 6:37).

Hence, St. Maximilian Kolbe gives this valuable piece of advice: “Do not criticize! To speak only of the faults of others does not represent total reality, for every man, in addition to his faults, also has virtues, a good side.” St. Basil the Great adds, “If you see your neighbor in sin, don’t look only at this, but also think about what he has done or does that is good, and infrequently trying this in general, while not partially judging, you will find that he is better than you.”

Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches