Give alms

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's (10/11) Gospel Acclamation spoke to me - "The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart" - because it is a reminder that God probes our minds and truly knows our hearts (Jeremiah 17:10).

This is what Jesus tells us about the heart: ". . .the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy" (Matthew 15: 18-19). Yikes 

However, in today's Gospel, Christ tells us how to purify our hearts. . . "give alms", because we when think of the needs of others, rather than our own, we have love (charity) in our hearts. 

This past Sunday, I shared with the engage couples that the Sacrament of Marriage is one of the sacraments of service. When husband and wife give of each other sacrificially and unconditionally, not accounting the costs, they overcome their own selfish egos for the good the marital covenant.

Love is an act of the will. When husband and wife choose to love each other, they become perfect witnesses of Jesus' love for his Bride - the Church (the Body of Christ which we are all members of). This is "faith working through love" as Saint Paul wrote to the Galatians.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

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.”