Inside the Cup

You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self‑indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Matthew 23:25‑26

We live in an era where “image management” is a priority. So much of our time is spent trying to appear as though we have it all together. We want everything to seem perfect to the outside world. We post our pictures of the perfect vacation or the achievements of our children, projecting images of a successful life devoid of challenges. This type of image management can even carry over to our spiritual lives. We want the world to think we have it all together spiritually when the truth is that we are all broken and far from perfection. Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self‑indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean” (Matthew 23:25‑26). That advice is for us as well. What if instead of focusing on our outside appearance we focused on the inside—the true condition of our heart and relationship with Christ?

For Reflection

In what way do you try to present an image of being a faithful person to the world?
How might the true condition of your heart be at odds with your public image?

Prayer

Lord, we want to be people who follow you in an authentic way. We ask that you give us the grace to reflect on our own lives and see the ways that we fail to live up to what we say that we believe. We pray that you will work in and through us, helping us to be honest with ourselves and others as we seek to become like you. Lord, change us into the people that you have created us to be. Amen.