Luke 11: 37-41

Tuesday of 28^th Ordinary Sunday

Gal. 5: 1-6

Lk. 11: 37-41

Mass Intro. Fr. S. . .

We judge people by external standards
But God sees our internal motivation.

In the first reading, we find the Galatians were seeking to obey the Law of circumcision as Jews did. Paul was against their embracing the rite of circumcision. He believed that the Galatians’ reception of circumcision would prove that they did not have full confidence and faith on Christ and therefore they became the slaves of the Law and separated themselves from Christ. To Paul, all that mattered was faith in Jesus Christ which works through love.

In the Gospel having accepted an invitation to dinner, Jesus goes to the Pharisee’s' house. He ignored the ritual washing before dinner which amazed the Pharisees. Jesus accused them of their paying attention to externals of religion. He told them that God sees our interior motivation, i.e. our heart rather than external observances of Laws.

 Jesus is not concerned with paraphernalia of externals used in ceremonies. He is concerned with the heart of religion such as love, mercy, compassion, justice, almsgiving to the poor and needy. Jesus said in the Gospel, “what I want is mercy, not sacrifice.”

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Scrapbook of NT technical hitches?

Luke 11:41 stubs the experts.

The hurdle for me is the almost unanimous translation of elemosynam / ἐλεημοσύνην / eleēmosunēn for ‘ALMS’.
To me the words sounds of 'alms box' of Church porch.   The Biblos translation by ‘charity’, embraces a more helpful understanding.

Luke 11:41

41   4133 41   ADV 41   πλὴν 41   plēn 41   rather	3588 T-APN τὰ ta the	1751 V-PAP-APN ἐνόντα enonta that are within	1325 V-2AAM-2P δότε dote give	1654 N-ASF ἐλεημοσύνην eleēmosunēn charity	2532 CONJ καὶ kai and
2400 V-2AAM-2S ἰδοὺ idou then	3956 A-NPN πάντα panta things	2513 A-NPN καθαρὰ kathara clean	5213 P-2DP ὑμῖν umin to you	2076 V-PAI-3S ἐστιν. estin are

(GNT-WH+)  πλην^{G4133 ADV}  τα^{G3588 T-APN}  ενοντα^{G1751 V-PAP-APN}  δοτε^{G1325 V-2AAM-2P}  ελεημοσυνην^{G1654 N-ASF}  και^{G2532 CONJ}  ιδου^{G3708 V-2AMM-2S}  παντα^{G3956 A-NPN}  καθαρα^{G2513 A-NPN}  υμιν^{G4771 P-2DP}  εστιν^{G1510 V-PAI-3S}  

(Vulgate)  verumtamen quod superest date elemosynam et ecce omnia munda sunt vobis

(AMP)  But [dedicate your inner self and] give as donations to the poor of those things which are within [of inward righteousness] and behold, everything is purified and clean for you. 

(DRB)  But yet that which remaineth, give alms: and behold, all things are clean unto you.

(KJV)  But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.  

(NAB) But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you. (NJB) Instead, give alms from what you have and, look, everything will be clean for you. (NRSV) So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. (RSV)  But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.  (UPDV) But give for alms those things which are inside; and look, all things are clean to you+. (Vulgate)  verumtamen quod superest date elemosynam et ecce omnia munda sunt vobis

The Sacra Pagina Commentary ponders.

For the moment the Navarre Bible Commentary suggests:

Luke  40-41.  It is not easy to work out what these verses mean. Probably our Lord is using the idea of cleaning the inside and outside of dishes to teach that a person's heart is much more important than what appears on the surface--whereas the Pharisees got it the wrong way round, as so many people tend to do. Jesus is warning us not to be so concerned about "the outside" but rather give importance to "the inside". Applying this to the case of alms: we have to be generous with those things we are inclined to hoard; in other words, it is not enough just to give a little money (that could be a purely formal, external gesture); love is what we have to give others--love and understanding, refinement, respect for their freedom, deep concern for their spiritual and material welfare; this is something we cannot do unless our interior dispositions are right. In an address to young people, Pope John Paul II explains what almsgiving really means: "The Greek word for alms, "eleemosyne", comes from "eleos", meaning compassion and mercy. Various circumstances have combined to change this meaning so that almsgivingalmsgiving in the proper sense means realizing the needs of others and letting them share in one's own goods. Who would say that there will not always be others who need help, especially spiritual help, support, consolation, fraternity, love? The world is always very poor, as far as love is concerned" (28 March 1979).    Signature Sancta Maria Abbey: http://www.nunraw.com Blogspot:http://www.domdonald.org.uk/ or Google Nunraw