Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 25th August
Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 25th August 2021
In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, (Mt 23: 27-32), we continue where we left off yesterday with Jesus criticising the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. What is hypocrisy but the practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which we criticise another or the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which our own behaviour does not conform. This is precisely what Jesus has to say about the scribes and Pharisees. Their behaviour is clear for all to see, yet only Jesus appears to have the courage to stand up to them. Ultimately, this leads to self-deception as people begin to believe the lies they tell. Everyone could see that these opponents of Jesus had no intention or desire to live up to their own teaching and the standards which they expected others to keep. Outward appearances can be deceptive, as the proverbs say, “The habit doesn’t make the monk,” or “A wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Our translation, from the Jerusalem Bible, says, “Alas for you,” whereas other translations prefer, “Woe to you,” a rather more forceful expression. Let us hear what Jesus has to say:
“Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers’ day.” So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’”
Jesus compares the religious leaders of his day to tombs, that were often built along the highway and were whitewashed to prevent people from making the mistake of touching them, thus incurring ritual impurity. Their outward appearance belies their purpose and contents. Those leaders are counterfeit and fake, looking good on the outside, yet rotten to the core within. Jesus knows they are after his blood and are intent on murder, after all, they are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets of old. While declaring that they would not have participated in the killing of the prophets as their ancestors did, here they are, planning his own death. They have rejected Jesus as their Messiah, for their hearts are hardened to the love of God and they are not willing to change. They lack the humility to look into their own hearts and see the evil they keep hidden there.
Heavenly Father, we ask you to rid our own hearts of any duplicity or hypocrisy. Through the gift of your Spirit, make us pure within and help us to become more and more like Jesus in every way. May our lives encourage others to seek your face. Amen.
