Most of us want to make a good impression. Before we leave the house, we might look in the mirror, comb our hair, or make sure we look presentable. We pay attention to what people see on the outside. But how often do we stop and take a good look at what’s going on inside us?
That’s what Jesus is getting at in today’s Gospel.
A Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner and is surprised that Jesus doesn’t wash before the meal. Jesus uses this opportunity to make an important point: “Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.”
In other words, Jesus is asking, “You’re paying a lot of attention to the outside, but what about the inside?” And that’s a question worth asking ourselves.
We can look like good Christians on the outside. We come to Mass, say our prayers, and try to do the right things. But what’s happening in our hearts? Are we holding on to anger? Are we carrying a grudge? Are we quick to criticize or become impatient with the people closest to us?
Sometimes, we can be very patient with strangers but lose our patience with our own family. We can speak kindly to someone at church and then talk negatively about that same person on the way home! What comes out of us often reveals what’s going on inside.
That’s why our interior life matters so much. If we want to change the way we speak and act, we have to pay attention to what’s happening in our hearts and minds. We can’t simply tell ourselves to be more patient or more loving. We also need to ask the Lord to help us address the anger, pride, jealousy, or resentment that gets in the way.
The good news is that we don’t have to do this work alone. God’s grace can help us change if we’re willing to take an honest look at ourselves and allow the Lord to show us what needs attention.
Today, we can ask ourselves a simple question: What is one thing in my heart that needs to change? Perhaps it’s a grudge we’ve been holding, a habit of complaining, or a tendency to judge others too quickly.
As we receive the Eucharist, let us ask Jesus to make us more loving Christians from the inside out. When our hearts and ways of thinking begin to change, our words and actions change, too. The people around us can then experience more of Christ’s love through us.
Remember, the Lord isn’t just interested in how we look on the outside. He wants to transform us from the inside out. Today, let’s give Him permission to get to work on whatever it is we need to change.