OCTOBER 13, 2026 FATHER ERNESTO DE CICCIO
Several times in the Gospels Jesus reminds us that what’s inside matters more than what’s outside. And he’s using this example about the washing of the cup. And how the Pharisee was being critical, because Jesus didn’t first wash before dinner. Now we know the importance of being clean and sanitary, but that’s not the point here.
He just invited the Son of God into his home. Maybe he didn’t recognize him for who he was. But at least he knew that this Jesus from Nazareth was a great preacher, and teacher, and miracle worker. This was a holy man!
And all he could do was be fixated on the fact that he didn’t observe this tradition of washing before sitting down at table. Why didn’t he notice the good in Jesus, that he had been doing throughout Judea and Galilee? Why didn’t he just praise him for being such a great person? Why didn’t he just count his blessings for Jesus accepting his invitation to come to his home?
No. He had to be critical and focus on this one little thing. So what was more important? The fact that Jesus was the Son of God, or that he didn’t wash before sitting down at table?
But let’s not be too critical of this Pharisee, because this is exactly how judgemental we can be at times. We can look at people, and say, oh this one is of a certain race. And we can be racist. We can look at people and say, oh, that one dresses like a slob. Have we even considered that that person might be a saint?
We do it all the time. And basically, we should not judge a book by its cover, right? Look at the inside. Look at the inside, the good hearts of people. And good hearts can be found in people of different races, and languages, and nationalities, and cultures, and lifestyles.
I’m always reminded of how upset some people got years ago at one of my former parishes, when this teenage girl showed up to Mass. And as was the style, I guess, she had a cut-off t-shirt that made you clearly see her belly button. I don’t care to see anybody’s belly button, okay? But everybody was being so critical.
I had to say, “Wait a minute!” We got a teenager who actually showed up to Mass on Sunday morning?! Thank God! That young woman chose to come to church and pray. And all people could fixate on was the way she was dressed.
We do not judge a book by its cover. Look at the inside. If they had given this girl a chance, they would have seen what a good heart she had.
I’m reminded of another story, of this young fellow, who showed up to an early morning Mass. And he didn’t fit in, because everybody was Italian at that particular Mass. And they saw him walking in with a backpack. And I guess there had been some incidences of terrorism in some places, and they were putting all the bombs in the backpack.
I walked in for Mass, and everybody was sitting in a different part of the church to be a safe distance from this boy. And they said, “Father Ernie, I think we’ve got a terrorist in the church.” I said, “Really?! Let me go see who it is.”
He was my altar boy from the Sunday evening Mass. And he just wanted to make it to Mass, because he had to go to work that day. You don’t judge a book by it’s cover! And here they thought he was a terrorist, and he was one of my good altar boys who didn’t want to miss Sunday Mass. How often do we do this?
What does it mean to have clean hands? They should have looked at Jesus, these Pharisees, and said, “He has clean hands, because clean hands are not gained by soap and water.”
Remember Lady MacBeth? In Shakespeare’s play? “Out, out, damned spot!” Yeah, she couldn’t get rid of the blood that was on her hands. Because it was in her heart.
So let’s learn that lesson from Jesus Christ in our interactions with people. Let’s realize that goodness can be found in all sorts of people. No matter how they dress, no matter how they talk, no matter how they walk. Whether or not they observe our customs of washing our hands.
Look for the good. Jesus always tried to see the good in others. What a shame that this Pharisee couldn’t just see the good in Jesus. Who was all good. Who was the Son of God, come to lead us from darkness into light, from death into life.
Let’s not be judgemental. Let’s not judge a book by its cover. Let’s look inside and recognize always the good.
Oh, I know, the bad can stare us in the face. It’s always there. We’re not blind. Look for the good. Because that should always outweigh any bad.
