Holy Spirit of God, help me become holy from the inside out…

 
Luke 11:37-54

 
Was Jesus merely blasting the pharisees, or was he making a profound statement about inner sanctity? Luke recounts how two pharisees dared to invite the itinerant preacher from North (Nazareth) for dinner… and then pointed out his social and ‘religious’ faults by commenting that he didn’t wash his hands before eating. Jesus ticked both pharisee hosts, and then the scribes for being ‘whited sepulchers’ rather than the truly holy people God designed them to be. Like many people through the ages, these seemingly religious people were doers of everything religious, and busy with judging others, preferring their self-appointed status to joining themselves to the Father’s heart and will. Holiness for them was an outward show, rather than an inward journey to their God and Father. Many of us today suffer from this same religiosity and forget what true holiness is – that is, a heart, mind, soul and strength so aligned to the Holy Spirit of God, that God’s character of Mercy is enacted in ‘small actions done with great love’ (Saint Mother Teresa of Kalcutta). Will I fall into the rut of prescribed religious activities and sacramentals, or will I learn the freedom of a life inspired and full-filled by the Holy Spirit of God?  Will I, with the humility and trust of a beloved child turn to the Father in simple praise and thanksgiving and take up the yoke of Christ Jesus to learn from Him a truly religious (regulated, healed, and wholly holy) way of life? Holy Spirit of God, help me become holy from the inside out.
 
Incline my heart according to your will, O God, speed my steps along your path.       (Psalm 119:36 )
 
Forgive the sins of your people, Lord, and let this new day bring us closer to salvation.
Week IV Wednesday Morning Prayer, Shorter Christian Prayer
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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