Reflection for August 26 Tuesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 23:23-26

Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

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Reflection:

Are we easily taken by physical appearance? 

There was once a lady who became smitten by the handsome appearance of her neighbor. When he asked her to elope with him, she agreed without hesitation. Yet, as weeks and months passed, she began to see his true character—his domineering attitude, his being irresponsible, and many other hidden flaws. What was once attractive on the outside became a source of sorrow when the truth of his inner life was revealed. 

How often do we also fall into this same trap? Many of us are easily drawn to what is pleasing to the eyes. We admire those who are good-looking, or we give honor to those dressed in expensive clothes. But appearances can deceive. What is external does not always reflect the truth of what lies within. 

For Jesus, external beauty is not what matters. He looks far deeper—into the purity of our hearts and the sincerity of our motives. What is unseen by the human eye, yet felt in the depth of the soul, is what matters most to Him. 

This should remind us: not everyone who looks good outwardly carries a good heart within. Some may appear radiant on the outside, yet lack humility and love in the inside. On the other hand, there are those whose faces may not shine with worldly beauty, but whose hearts are filled with kindness, compassion, and a quiet holiness that reflects the light of God. 

Let us therefore strive not for outward beauty, but for the kind of inner radiance that Jesus sees and treasures. For in the end, it is not our looks that will matter before God, but the purity of our hearts, the humility of our spirit, and the love we extend to others. — Marino J. Dasmarinas