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Luke 11:41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

The church defines sacraments as ‘outward signs of inward grace’. Consequently, we could make a case then that some things such as Spiritual gifts or the fruits of the Spirit are received internally. We are right- but all that is given internally ultimately have outward expressions.

So today, Jesus invited his listeners ‘to give what is within’ to the poor. In other words, they had to tap into the depths of whatever invisible reserves they held to give unto others. Only then will all things be made clean unto them.

Looking closely, that reverse logic makes perfect sense. They were required to showcase whatever they harboured within and to share it generously with others. Here is a truth : unless being sarcastic, No one is happy and will give with a smile on their face something they aren’t proud of. It matters not what they say, one is proud and can hold their heads up when they give the very best of themselves.

The charge today is therefore to look within ourselves to see if there are things we still harbour and cannot generously give to others. Anger, rebellion, guilt, lack of self control, envy, hatred, jealousy among others. If there is anything we can find within but cannot give the same away as a gift with a smile on our face, then that thing has no place within.

#sly