In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the scholars of the law using hard-hitting words: “You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.” This leads us to ask ourselves, Is my life purely concerned with surface-level realities or superficial things? How many times in a day do we think about the way our lives look to others, in pictures or on social media? Now ask yourself: how often do I think about the state of my soul?
Friends, Jesus is reminding us here that we need to make the conditions of our souls our first priority. It’s easy to get fixated or stuck on the superficial. In this gospel, Our Lord is speaking to those whom society sees as the most faithful, the most religious—those who serve as religious authorities among God’s chosen people. And yet, on the inside, they are “full of plunder and self indulgence.”
It’s not about showing our religiosity outwardly; Christ came to bring the law to the level of our hearts, so that we might be transformed by His love. It’s what’s “under the surface” that’s most important. Why is that? Because what’s “under the surface” (i.e. the soul) is eternal. Everything else fades away.
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
Prioritizing the spiritual life makes a person into a visible sign of God in the world, becoming a testament to His love. Others can perceive tangible joy and peace from such a person who has his soul “in order.” This is what Jesus is addressing with the scholars.
The condition of one’s soul is reflected in how a person lives their life, by the choices they make, the attitudes and virtuous dispositions they cultivate. Even the way a person addresses another in an elevator can give an indication of the condition of their soul.
If our soul is not in order, if it is “full of plunder and self-indulgence,” then it is impossible to have peace. This connection between spiritual disorder and lack of peace certainly plays a role in today’s society, as indicated by the soaring rates of anxiety and depression. A startling percentage of Americans take prescription medication in order to feel “lifted up.” How is it that the wealthiest nation on the planet has some of the highest levels of depression? It’s because we’ve forgotten that the condition of our soul is what drives whether we live truly satisfied lives.
So much of what we see today is a result of a superficial model of thinking. This morning, while doing my spiritual reading, I read something from the Servant of God Dorthy Day: “I am speaking of heavenly things, but heaven and earth are linked together as the body and soul are linked together.” We cannot have a fulfilled life without first caring for our soul—it directly impacts our body and other earthly things because “the body and soul are linked together.” The condition of our soul is shown in the human eyes, it’s perceived in the way we greet one another, in the choices we make, etc. When we don’t put the spiritual life first, we lose our peace and joy.
“Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”
Jesus reminds us to pay attention to the most important thing—the condition of our souls. As with all things, one must build on a solid foundation. When we get “first principals” right, everything else falls into place. The same goes for how well we care for our interior life and the condition of our soul.
Modern society loves to care for their bodies, which is a good thing. We go to the gym six days a week, we shower each day, eat “clean,” etc. All those things are important. But what about the care of the soul? What does that look like on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis? This is why the saints recommend going to confession at least monthly. It is necessary to “clean” our souls regularly, the way we do our bodies.
As we age, our bodies begin to break down, and eventually we die. But our soul lives on. Because our souls are eternal, don’t you think it’s a good idea to give them priority of place in our lives—to care for and nurture them daily?
Joy and peace are directly related to the condition of the soul. Everyone wants to be happy, but few see, believe, or choose to pursue the only thing that makes for authentic joy and peace.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Oh Francesco on August 26th, 2025.
Photo by Poko Skincare on Unsplash
