An Inside Job

Making the spiritual a priority over the physical   

Luke 11:37-41  After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”    

          Today, I want to share with you why I decided to become a priest, and maybe it will inspire someone here at Trinity to be one, too. When I was in 8th grade at St. Theresa School in Little Rock, there was a little blonde girl that I really liked. I believed I loved her. One day, I mustered up the courage to call her and ask her to go to have lunch with me at Taco Bell. She answered the phone and said, “No, thanks.” So, I decided I might as well become a priest! I’m just kidding, that’s not the real reason, although that really happened.   

          Actually, in grade school and high school I did think about being a priest, but not because of a broken heart. Rather my heart felt a desire to help others (as many of you do, too). But I also began to see there are two distinct ways to help others. One, you can help them by giving them food to eat, or clothes to wear, or a house to live in. Providing for someone’s physical needs is very good and very necessary. But you can also help them spiritually – teach someone right and wrong, love someone unconditionally, help them to know Jesus, share with them about heaven and hope, introduce them to the Bible. And as I thought about these two paths of helping others, I asked myself which “need” lasts longer: the physical or the spiritual? Well, the physical lasts 80, 90, or 100 years, but the spiritual lasts forever. And who takes care of spiritual needs? Obviously, priests do! You see, priests put a higher premium on the spiritual over the physical; that’s why they become priests.   

          In the gospel today, Jesus tries to teach a Pharisee to prioritize the inside (the spiritual) over the outside (the physical). A Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner but is shocked that Jesus does not wash his hands before he eats. Jesus seizes the opportunity to teach, saying, “Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” In other words, of course you must take care of the physical needs – like washing your hands – but far more urgent are spiritual needs – like mercy and modesty, prayer and peace, grace and generosity. Pharisees, like priests, must not forget that the spiritual ranks higher than the physical.

          One of the great blessings but also burdens of junior high school is you really begin to notice the physical side of you. The boys’ voices start changing and so they don’t want to sing in church. Some girls shoot up in height and become basketball and volleyball stars. Your brains are absorbing information at lightning speed, faster than your teachers can teach! You are becoming leaders on the field, on the court, in the bandroom, in the classroom and even of the whole school. We’ll hear from Zane Watson and Mary Kate Wewers who want your vote to be student body president. Boys and girls, I watch with awe and wonder as you develop into mature young men and women. I’m very proud of you.

          But let me remind you of what I learned in 8th grade, and what Jesus teaches in the gospel: keep the spiritual a higher priority than the physical. How do you do that? Here are three ways: (1) don’t judge another person by their appearance: dark or light skin, tall or short, pretty or handsome. People’s physical qualities come and go, but it’s the spirit that stays, and that’s where we see each person is a child of God. Treat each person as a child of God.  (2) There’s a quotation hanging in the office that reads: “Be kind to each person, for everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” On the outside someone may look happy and carefree, but inside they may be going through “H. E. double hockey sticks.” Everyone suffers inner turmoil, be kind to them, don’t be mean. And (3) don’t think other families are better than yours; they’re not. My friend, Fr. Clayton Gould, likes to say, “Everyone is normal until you get to know them.” What does that mean? It means that all families are dysfunctional and have problems and argue and fight, not just yours. When you look inside a family, and see the spiritual side, you see everyone is crazy.   

          If you prioritize the spiritual over the physical, you’ll live your life very differently: you’ll be much happier, and maybe even become a priest.  And by the way, if you ask a girl out to eat, don’t take her to Taco Bell, at least invite her to Golden Corral.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!