Luke 11:37-41
While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table.
The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.
And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness.
You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?
But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.
Homily:
There was a point to be made.
There was a need for shock treatment.
There was a need to show the absurdity of what is going on inside, by demonstrating it with what we value – external appearances.
It worked.
Jesus is not promoting unhygienic behaviours.
He is simply showing us this – just as our physical hygiene is important, our spiritual hygiene is too.
He then advises that we prioritise our spiritual hygiene for total cleanliness.
This ties in well with letting the spirit leading.