Things that are within

0:04

Inhliziyo Zethu

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Today is Tuesday the 13th of October, the feast of Saint Edward the Confessor in the 28th week of Ordinary Time.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Inhliziyo Zethu’: ‘You will make my heart pure’. A pure heart is a heart that is open to God, that doesn’t seek its own advantage, but wants whatever God wants. As you enter into prayer today, ask for that openness of heart, that your heart is led towards God; to be guided in the way God wants me to go.

4:27

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 11:37-41

While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.

6:00

Morning Rain

Center of Attention x Memories of the Forgotten

Jesus reminds us in this passage today that it is God who made both the inside, and the outside. Take a moment to reflect on what this means in your life...

In daily life, we are so often drawn to what is on the outside. Our attention is pulled in so many different directions; competing distractions all luring us in with eye-catching, dopamine-prompting aesthetics, branding, notifications, features and images. Influencers on social media taking their best shot at trying to sell us something that seeks to “improve” our “outside”. Take a moment to reflect on where this has been your experience recently...

Jesus’ words are a strong reminder that God has also knitted together the “inside”. What would the world look like, do you think, if we were to tend to this “inside” a little more, both for ourselves and for those around us? As you hear the story again, listen to what Jesus suggests is the remedy.

9:24

Luke 11:37-41

While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.

10:41

‘Give for alms those things that are within’ says Jesus, rather enigmatically. What is there within you, deep within you, that you might 'give for alms' - give to God? In the closing moments of this prayer time, talk this over with the Lord.

13:01

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen