We are experts at cleansing the outside. There are numerous times a day for scrubbing, sanitizing, and rinsing the filth from our environments. The dishes, the laundry, and the clutter are a never-ending story in our lives.

As we disinfect the outside of our lives, there is often a temptation towards fear. Have you ever felt trapped in the shame of your mess, your weaknesses, and your sins? Do you hope that others won’t notice the chaos you experience?

Dear sisters in Christ, the Good News for us today is that “[f]or freedom Christ set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Jesus invites us to freedom in Him. Will you let Him do His work in your heart today? Our personal holiness is His project. With confident trust, invite the Divine Messiah to do the cleansing.

As we let Jesus into the mess, listen to our Savior’s instructions: “As to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you” (Luke 11:41). Have you ever noticed this connection between the interior life, alms giving, and purity?

The Father desires to give us a rich interior life of prayer, and He sent His Beloved Son to reveal perfect love. As we live our lives in Christ, we practice acts of charity with the alms we offer in worship to the Father. Generosity is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit that springs from a pure heart. How beautiful that Emmanuel, God with us, chooses to dwell in us. We are cleansed as we become His home.

In my own life, I have found such joy and healing in creative almsgiving. Be attentive to the Holy Spirit today and let Him show you where to give alms. Rake the leaves of your elderly neighbor, bring a meal to a new mom, visit with a widow, pay for someone’s food, write a message of hope on the sidewalk, clean the kitchen for your friend battling cancer.

And as you enter into other’s mess through giving alms, enter back into your own heart and delight with the freedom that everything will be clean for you.

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