Cleansing the Inside of the Cup

~~~ Memorial of Saint Monica ~~~

~~~ 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 139 ~~~ Matthew 23:23-26 ~~~

 

When you have learned something exciting
it is hard to keep it to yourself.

A surprise party for instance is hard to keep to yourself.

 

Paul was thrilled to share with the inhabitants of Thessalonica

his affection for them.

He was more eager to share all that he had learned about God.

 During this process he also shared his very self with them. 

 

With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
 

God began working on Paul from the inside out

way before he was knocked off his horse...

way before his eyesight was shielded.

God knew him from his beginning.

God had created him placing in him the ideal qualities

to lead others to a conversion of heart.

Then God gave Paul the grace of acceptance.

 

O LORD, you have probed me and you know me...

 

Today we are only given a few verses from this magnificent psalm 139.

I invite you to pick up your Bible and read the entire psalm.

Make it personal; pray it mindful of yourself.

You cannot shock or surprise God;

he knows your inner most depths.

The greatest part about God knowing us

is that he patiently waits for us
to get to know ourselves as he knows us.

Maybe this is what it means to take delight in the Lord.

 

 

 ...cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.

 

Thinking of this cup led me to ponder translucence and transparency.
God sees us from the inside and from the outside.

...a translucent medium allows the transport of light
while a transparent medium not only allows the transport of light
but allows for the image formation.

Cleansing the inside of the cup would diminish
 the amount of distortion as the light passes through the object.
Jesus is the light which we strive to reflect.
His light first passes into our soul...
when his light enters into a 'cleansed cup' it allows
 for a better image formation.
This image which others can see through me and through you.

God created you with great care and love;
through your Baptism the inside of the cup was cleansed.
Now the maintenance is up to you.

Blessings come in cleansing the inside of the cup.

 

Saint Monica, pray for us.