Cleansing of the Cup or Dish from inside

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty First Week : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Mt 23:23-26*

*First Reading : 2 Thess 2:1-3a, 14-17*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 96:11-12, 13*

*Cleansing of the Cup or Dish from inside*

*1) Challenges to clean the cup from Inside*

Jesus speaks about the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees in today's Gospel

In this context Jesus uses the imagery of the cup to show explain the vice of hypocrisy 

Cleansing of the Cup is the work that has to be done. At the same time, there are certain things which we need to pay attention in the process of cleansing the cup 

These are also could be tremed as the challenges of cleansing the cup 

*2) First of need to Empty the Cup*

To clean the cup we need the empty the cup 

It means cup is filled with many things 

Emptying cup means discarding all the things which are inside the cup

Unless one is ready to discard the things which are inside, cleansing of the cup is not possible

Some times people find emptying cup is really challenging, because they consider whatever inside the cup is the real identity and when inside is empty they feel everything is empty

This emptiness should be filled with other good things, which they find really difficult

*3) Complications of the Cup*

Cups are of different kinds and shapes. In this way, each cup is unique

Some cups are deep, some are having bottle neck, some are huge, some are transparent, some are colourful and some are plain 

At times to clean these cups  are difficult, especially if the cup is of bottleneck, or deep inside 

These are the challenges of cleansing the cup 

*4) The need of extra things to clean the Cup*

When the cup is deep or of bottleneck,  one can't clean the cup from hands. 

In such situation one needs some instruments and some detergent also 

Brush, surf, detergent and other things are needed to clean the cup. 

One can't take this work in a casual way. One has to take this task in a serious way 

*5) Dangers of the Dirty Cup*

Not properly cleaned cup becomes dirty

The dirt which gets accumulated inside the cup gradually becomes poison

Such poison, it gets into the stuff which is poured into cup or while using the cup. Finally it gets into the body, which may be dangerous for health

*6) Life as Cup*

Jesus compares the entire logic of the cup to our life 

In a larger context our life itself is the beautiful cup 

Our moral life or the conscience is the inside of the cup 

The steps which are involved in cleansing the cup, also applicable to clean the life's cup 

There are also spiritual things to clean the life's cup

*7) The Spiritual things needed*

To clean the life's cup we need the following spiritual things 

The sacrament of confession

The examination of the conscience

The humility to accept ones wrong doing

The strong prayer life 

The grace of God 

The active participation in the celebration of the sacraments 

Reading and meditating the Scriptures 

*8) The Value of the Cup/Chalice*

The life's cup also reminds the cup of Jesus or the Chalice 

No one can pass through life, without this cup 

Like Jesus one has the embrace the life's cup 

This cup is filled with the mission, liberative aspect, challenges, sacrifice, Cross and victory 

With life's cup one can find real meaning of life, if it is clean and good

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*