From today’s Scripture: “But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” — Luke 11:41

Jesus is a dinner guest of a Pharisee. The host is offended by his guest’s neglect of ritual law before the meal, but is himself negligent of weightier matters of moral law, such as charity. Jesus, therefore, prescribes almsgiving.

Rather than dismissing this episode as of a no longer extant religious sect, we may place ourselves into the scene and listen to Jesus. It is easy to perform the ritual observance of our Catholic faith without reflecting on the moral demands of being Catholic. If ritual observance doesn’t result in an increase in charity, then we have missed the point.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, let me listen to your admonition that my practice of the faith not be divorced from the practice of the virtue of charity, that I may love you as I ought and my neighbor as myself. Amen.

Today’s author is Deacon Scott Watford, missionary pastoral coordinator at Glenmary’s Holy Family mission in Early County and St. Luke mission in Randolph County, Georgia.

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