Homily – Clean Inside First

Brothers and sisters,

Today the Word of God slices through pretence. Paul tells us what real ministry looks like. Jesus exposes what fake religion looks like. The choice is stark: live from the heart, or just play the part.

Paul defends his ministry in Thessalonica:

• Not for money.
• Not for applause.
• Not with flattery.

He says: “We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her children.”

The Gospel is not a hustle. It’s a gift.
Paul didn’t use people to serve himself. He used himself to serve people.

He didn’t just preach words — he poured out his life.
That’s Catholic ministry: not manipulation, but sacrifice.

Then Jesus tears into the Pharisees. He doesn’t accuse them of atheism or laziness. He accuses them of misplaced religion.

They tithe mint, dill, and cumin — counting seeds in the spice rack. Yet they neglect justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

They cared more about parsley than people.

They cleaned the outside of the cup but left the inside full of greed.
It looked holy, but it stank of pride.

That’s hypocrisy: when religion is costume, not conversion.

Here’s where it hits home.

• It’s not enough to show up at Mass. The devil could sit in the front pew.
• It’s not enough to say the Rosary. An AI can do that.
• It’s not enough to wear Catholic on your sleeve. You need it in your soul.

The sacraments are not decorations. They are fire. They are medicine. They work only if you open your heart.

Confession is not paperwork — it is heart surgery.
The Eucharist is not a symbol — it is Christ, cleansing you from the inside out.

Notice carefully: Jesus doesn’t condemn attention to detail. He doesn’t say, “Forget the tithe.” He says: “These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Externals matter — but they are second, not first.

Holiness is inside-out, not outside-in.

The Pharisees got it backwards. They painted the house but left the foundation rotten. Let’s be honest. We are not immune.

• We clean up well for Mass — but do we clean the heart in Confession?
• We light candles in church — but do we let Christ’s light shine in the hidden corners of our hearts?
• We sing the psalms and hymns with our lips — but do we also sing God’s praise with our lives?

God isn’t impressed with polish. He wants purity.

This is why Hebrews tells us: “The Lord disciplines those He loves.”

If you feel convicted, that’s not God rejecting you — that’s God recognising you, encouraging you to put it right. He loves you too much to let you stay a hypocrite.

So, how do we live this?

• Clean the inside first. That means Confession. Don’t leave sin festering.
• Feed the inside first. That means the Eucharist. Christ in you, hope of glory.
• Live from the inside out. That means obedience even when no one sees.

Because God is not fooled by the outside. He sees the inside. And only a clean heart can stand before Him.

Paul gave his life because his heart belonged to Christ.
The Pharisees gave appearances because their hearts belonged to themselves.

So here’s the question for us:
When Christ looks at you, will He see a cup polished only on the outside — or will He see a cup clean all the way through?