Wash The Dishes

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.” (Luke 11:37-41)

External appearances count for nothing, although many people focus more on how they look rather than on what comes out of their mouths.  The cups and dishes are clean, but inside the cups there are stains.  

We who are stained are “filled with plunder and evil.”  We are fools.  We fail to realize – or we simple don’t care – that those around us see us for who we really are, such as cruel and envious, perhaps devoid of empathy and even narcissistic.  

God knows we can be cleaned.  We just have to change our ways and follow Jesus.  Being charitable is one way to sparkle clean.  Let’s invite Jesus to dine at our homes and recline at our tables.  First, clean the cups and dishes.

Deacon David Pierce