Inward Beauty

Morning routines are a part of everyone’s day. We awake with ‘just enough time’ to be ready for our day. We bathe and feed our bodies before spending time making ourselves presentable for our coworkers and friends. If we have time, we may even say our prayers. No surprise.

The way we present ourselves is a reflection on how we feel about ourselves. A person who ignores personal hygiene is likely to be someone who ignores other aspects of their life. On the other hand, we also know, by experience, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

So, when Saint Peter advises us to focus on our inner beauty rather than outer beauty, we shouldn’t be surprised either. Our inner person is our true person. Anyone can wear makeup and jewelry. Only true Christians live with humility and peace. Here’s St. Peter’s take on it.

Beloved, Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. Likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, when they see your reverent and chaste behavior. Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of fine clothing, but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. So once the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves and were submissive to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are now her children if you do right and let nothing terrify you. Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.

1^st Peter 2:21-25; 3:1-9

Admittedly, today’s reading emphasizes marriage, but it still applies to our workplace ‘persona’ and public engagement. We hear many times that we must strive to be Christians outside the church building as much as we are inside the walls of the Church.

You could just as much say we must be Christians outside our bodies as much as we are inside our bodies. A peaceful soul is less likely to lash out at work when we don’t get our way. A humble soul is more likely to be a loyal employee, and worthy of promotion.

In the ancient Church, especially during times of severe persecution, it wasn’t outward beauty that drew others to Christ. It was the inner peace and humility that brought attention to the ‘way’ of Christ. He is our example. He is our ‘employee’ of the year, so to speak.

I’m not writing today to advise you on how to get a promotion at work. Saint Peter’s emphasis was focused on our souls. Our inner beauty is what will draw others to Christ. It was the way Christians behaved in the ancient world that caused the Church to grow exponentially.

Ultimately, our outward behavior and inner beauty isn’t even about drawing others to Christ, though He desires our lives to bring others to Him. Our outward behavior reflects our soul, which God knows better than we know.

If our outward behavior doesn’t reflect Christian behavior, we are either hypocrites or liars. We cannot preach peace and humility and arrive at work ‘dressed to the nines’, prepared to devour anyone in the way of our promotion.

This is our calling as Christians. Whether or not the world honors our behavior, it must reflect Christ. All the makeup and jewelry in the world won’t compensate for a lack of peace and humility. On the other hand, a peaceful and humble soul will shine brighter than gold.