True cleanliness

The past and present shape the future.

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.-Luke11:37-41

As I reflected on the Gospel, I remembered a few experiences I had. 1) While growing up, my mother would always caution us about making friends with the "wrong kind." 2) While working in a big corporation, one of the people in the finance department asked me, "What kind of people do you like to make friends with?" I said, "Anybody. Everybody." He suddenly said, "Wrong! When you make friends, befriend those who are rich, powerful and influential! Because these are the ones who will help you when you need one and not the poor! The poor will only ask and ask for help!" [I did not follow his advice but I have rich and poor friends.] 3) Because I befriended the "wrong kind," I suffered and experienced pain which made me cautious of this type of people.

Going back to the history of Israel, there were many moments of infidelity towards God. There are obvious

ones like making a molten calf and worshiping pagan idols and gods such as Baal. There are hidden ones like internal sinfulness and wickedness. After the Babylonian exile, the Israelites learned their lessons, some of them are: following the Law strictly and disassociation with pagans.

Sometimes, our experiences shape our way of thinking, attitude and character. It is understandable for the Israelites to stay away from the 'wrong kind' of people i.e. Gentiles, because the latter are the ones who brought pagan idols, gods and practices that are considered an abomination that angered God. It is understandable for the Israelites to barricade themselves again other people for fear of God's wrath and punishment.

But Jesus says something else. "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness." Everybody - good and bad alike - are in need of God's mercy.

As such, no one can think of himself/herself above other people. Instead of disassociating Himself with the sinners, all the more that Jesus sought them. Jesus is encouraging us to seek the least, the lost and the last. Why disassociate ourselves with other sinners if we ourselves are sinners as well? If we truly learned from our mistakes in the past, then we are strengthened by it already through God's grace. And if we are strengthened, we need not fear anymore because God has fortified us. And if we are fortified, we ought to seek others too, to make them realize their sinfulness, to guide them to the path of God. External cleanliness is not what is important, but the interior cleanliness.

Disassociation with the sinners is not a sign of true external cleanliness. The good that we do to others - sinners and saints alike - is but one act of cleanliness both externally and internally. Strict observance of the law is not exactly a sign of true cleanliness, but right application of it through good acts we do to others (i.e. not judging them).

Image courtesy: various artists