Today’s gospel recounts the story of a Pharisee inviting Jesus to dine with him. The Pharisee is horrified that Jesus neglected to wash hands before the meal. Jesus rebukes the Pharisee, saying “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?”
The point is that a pure heart is what is needed in this world. We can wash, look presentable, act proper and good, but if our interior is a mess, none of that matters. Our heart must be clean. And only God truly knows our hearts.
Paralyzed by Fear
Nearly three years ago, on a very damp and chilly early evening, two young strangers knocked on our door. We had been excitedly preparing to go to a family friends’ house for pizza. We weren’t expecting anyone and live in a remote, quiet neighborhood.
One look at the pair and my heart skipped a judgmental, nervous beat. They were bedraggled, in great need, and likely had not been making very good choices. The female wanted to use the bathroom and the young man, a phone.
We questioned why in the world they come to our house at the end of the cul-de-sac when they passed eleven others on the street. They explained that ours had the most signs of life. Ha! True enough. We couldn’t argue that with our brood of lively, boisterous children. However, this is exactly why we said we couldn’t permit them to enter. They were strangers and we had a family to protect.
Corporal Works
I heated up huge platefuls of hearty food and fed them on our front porch. They ate like they hadn’t eaten in days. It pained me to see. I brought them water and snacks and gave the young woman a down vest to keep warm. My husband allowed the man to charge his phone on the porch with one of our phone chargers. We called their parents in hopes they could come pick them up. They were an hour from home with no ride. In the end, we resorted to calling EMS and the sheriff. My husband urged that the hospital would be a warm place to stay, and the woman could have her twisted ankle tended to.
After what felt like nearly hours, they were off in an ambulance. So many emotions welled up inside me. To this day, I am still pondering my heart of that day. You see, on the outside we did all the Christian things. We fed and helped them and sought proper care. However, we never asked their names. Nor did we pray with them. My heart was scared and nervous. I was fearful of the what ifs and felt frozen. I am ashamed to say I wasn’t completely trusting in the Lord. To top it all off, I was a bit annoyed we were so late for dinner. My heart wasn’t completely pure– I saw the Pharisee in my heart.
Could we have done much differently in our actions with small children underfoot? Probably not. But! My heart could have reacted differently. I could have been less judgmental, less nervous, and more trusting in God’s protection over our family.
May we all have true, real freedom to love as Jesus loves. May our hearts match our actions. And if you too can see the Pharisee in your own heart, well that’s the first step.
What a touching story to read, thank you for this, Joanne. How notable that they chose to come to your home! I’m sure you touched their hearts deeply just by what you did. It’s not always easy to do everything in the actual moment. Yes, let us pray that we may love as Jesus loves!
So beautiful! And true. I too have often done what looks like mercy but without God is only an act that offends Him. But, thank God for His true mercy and patient pursuit of each one of us!