Today's Gospel is an absolute gut check, isn't it? "You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside [are] full of plunder and self indulgence" (Matthew 23:25).
Oh, okay God—I see You, and I'm uncomfortable! How often is it that my priorities go astray. How often is it that my focus turns from what is truly important: holiness and our journey toward Heaven. And instead, I turn to what is easier to tackle: the motions of my day to day without pause to remember what this is really all about.
How often it is that I take care of what can be seen, but neglect the well-being of my soul!
It's too often and it's too easy. But I don't want to live in comfort or complacency. I was not created to live a life that is seemingly neat and tidy on the outside, while my soul continues to die within.
The path to Heaven is one taken by an intentional soul—a soul after God's heart. I want to tend to the soil of my heart and soul today, reprioritize today, and set my intention and focus today on Him, His love, on sharing Him and His love even in the ordinariness of this day.
Today, I want to be clean from within.
Lord, give me the grace today to begin the hard, internal work You long for me to do. Remove from me all fear and anxiety and despair. Give me the grace to know that You, too, till the soil of my heart. You are right here with me doing the hard work. I invite You to refocus my heart, my mind, and my soul. I invite You to prune what needs to be pruned, to purify what needs to be purified, and bring to light anything that still resides in the dark. Create in me a clean heart, oh God and give me a steadfast spirit.
Let us pray Shalini's prayer today.
Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Coppell, Texas. She served with NET Ministries and went on to graduate with her J.D., though happily left all things law behind. Along with her roles as wife and mom, she now runs her own company, Pray. Train. Grow., as a Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. Her mission is to help Catholic women grow STRONG in mind, body, and heart through the integration of Faith, fitness and food.
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