Inside Out

While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. ‘But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the market-places. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.’ One of the lawyers answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.’ And he said, ‘Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So, you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore, also the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute”, so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.’ Luke 11:37-52

I enjoy movies that are supposed to be for kids, perhaps because I'm still partly a child myself. The movie, Inside Out, shows us the terror of trying to keep it together on the outside while battling with all the authentic emotions within. We rarely show our true selves and learn to hide our authentic selves, so that we can get what we want. The movie shows us that it's truly impossible to hide, and we will be known by our deeds. Jesus is very direct with the religious leaders and lawyers. He sees through their posh, law-abiding exteriors and sees the greed, selfishness and wickedness of their hearts. Leaders of all sorts need to take heed. If we are not living for justice and care of the innocent, the suffering and the alien among us, we are responsible for our deeds as well.

Wondrous Creator, who made us in Your image

we delight in the bird songs of the early morning

and rejoice in comfort as we lay down to sleep.

Too often, in between we forget your commandments

we put our greed and our desires before everyone else

and fail to carry your love and justice to the world.

Make us, dear Jesus, confess our failings and turn

so justice may again pour down on everyone like rain

and your love lift the suffering, the lonesome and all people. Amen.