One Minute Reflection – 12 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Romans 1: 16-25; Psalm 19: 2-5; Luke 11: 37-41 and the Memorial of St Serafino of Montegranaro OFM Cap (1540-1604)
And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness.”…Luke 11:39
REFLECTION – “The Pharisee invites Him to an entertainment for his own purpose. The Saviour of all, submits to this for providence’s sake. He made the matter an opportunity of giving instruction, not consuming the time of their meeting in the enjoyment of food and delicacies but, in the task of making those ,who were assembled there, more virtuous. The dull Pharisee himself, supplied an occasion for His speech, “because he wondered,” it says, “that he did not wash before dinner.” Did he wonder at Him, as having done something of which he approved, as being especially worthy of the saints? This was not his view. How could it be? On the contrary, he was offended because, although He had the reputation of a righteous man and a prophet, He did not conform Himself to their unreasonable customs.
Our argument is this. “O foolish Pharisee, you boast much of your knowledge of the sacred Scriptures. You are always quoting the law of Moses. Tell us where Moses gave you this commandment? What commandment ordained by God requires people to wash before eating? The waters of sprinkling were indeed given by the command of Moses for the cleansing of bodily uncleanness, as being a type of the Baptism which really is holy and cleansing, even that in Christ. Those who were called to the priesthood were also bathed in water. The divine Moses bathed Aaron and the Levites. The law thereby declared by means of the baptism enacted in type and shadow that even its priesthood did not have what is sufficient for sanctification. On the contrary, it needs divine and holy Baptism for the true cleansing.” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Father and Doctor of the the Incarnation of the Church (Commentary on Luke, “Homily 83”).
PRAYER – Lord God, open our hearts to Your Grace, that we may be filled with Your light and overflow with gratitude for Your merciful love. May we love and adore and worship You in return. Although we are sinners, our hearts long to thank You in total trust and humble thankfulness. Grant that by the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of our Hearts and of the humble St Serafino, we may grow in holiness. Through Your only Son, our Saviour and Redeemer, with the Holy Spirit, God, forever, amen.
AnaStpaul 