The Gospel for The memorial of St. Monica is taken from Matthew 23:23, 26th verse Jesus said, woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law, judgment and mercy, and fidelity. But those 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 Pharisees cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.

All religions have practices, things that we should do in order to show that we have a willing spirit to do what God calls us to do. But the shadow of all the things that we do is the fact that the action doesn’t always demand the intention that’s in the heart of the person. And what Jesus is saying to you, no matter what you do, how many practices you have, if your heart isn’t in the right place, if you’re not wanting and willing to heal and to help someone, you are dangerous and you need to reflect upon what you’re missing, the inside, the intention. Please take the next few minutes to reflect upon the meaning of this scripture and then I will close with a prayer. Foreign Closing Prayer Father, you and only you can change us. You and only your grace and your spirit dwelling within us can give us the courage and the strength to act on what is most essential.

Give us this wisdom, give us this insight, and we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.