Today's Gospel in Art - Clean the inside of your cup

Silver, silver-gilt and precious stone mounted chalice, by Adrian Pallarols, Designed and created in 2015 for visit of Pope Francis to USA © Adrian Pallarols, America Media. All Rights Reserved

Gospel of 27th August 2019 - Matthew 23: 23-26

Jesus said: 'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law - justice, mercy, good faith! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. You blind guides! Straining out gnats and swallowing camels!

'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.'

Reflection on the Chalice

Jesus continues His rebuke of the Pharisees in today's reading, which is still very topical in today's age. Living in times where image is so important, think of social media for example, we too are often tempted to give more importance to the outside of the cup than to the inside… Taking this cup in the literal sense, we see Argentinian silversmith Adrian Pallarols here at work, making a special chalice for the Papal visit to the USA in 2015. The Church asked for parishioners to send the silversmith old silver rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings etc for these to be melted and create this chalice.... To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/155