Tuesday
of the Second Week of Lent
Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Mt 23:1-12
Hypocrisy ➡️ Honesty
Dear
Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, the readings of the day strictly warns us
of the false attitude we develop under
the guise of religiosity (devotion) and goodness.
In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah
addresses the people, and the leaders as princes of Sodom and people of
Gomorrah, very strong words to call them like that. But God saw them in a
similar situation, evil in their actions and rebelling, disobeying and sinning
against God. At the same time they were behaving and doing all kinds of
religious activities presuming that God would be pleased. However, the prophet
clearly states God does not accept this dichotomy between their external
disposition through offerings and internal evil nature. They are full of
dishonesty and hypocrisy.
Similarly in the Gospel too,
Jesus points out the hypocrisy of Pharisees in general but it can be applied to
all of us, the elders, the leaders.
Jesus states that
●
They don’t practise
what they preach
●
They do superficially
in order to attract admiration and appreciation.
They
act as the authority in relation to spiritual and religious matters, they are
happy to lay burdens on others but not ready to help. They are happy to preach
extensively from one end to another but not ready to internalise the
practicality of it.
In
general, we know with regard to certain authorities we expect them to be aware
of their field and we are happy to listen.
the doctor about things medical, the lawyer about things legal, the
priest about things spiritual, the parent about family matters.
Unfortunately
there is even in our society and community
today a lot of dishonesty and hypocrisy in people’s attitude and there
is a void of integrity and honesty in us, also in the authoritative figures in
their fields. People are after fancy admiration than factual fostering of one's
life.
God
indeed condemns this behaviour and warns strictly but his desire is not to
punish unless we deserve. Instead He calls upon us for a change of heart,
change of behaviour, repentance.
Therefore the Lord says
“Wash yourselves clean! Come now, let us set things
right”.(Isaiah
1:16) He wishes to make our life wholesome again, and blessed
abundantly.
And how are we to wash ourselves clean and make
things right. Is it just by increasing our prayers,
our offerings and making a repentant prayer or just confession alone.
In addition to that,
★
Cease to do evil and
impure things
★
Depart from all the
occasions of temptations, doing wrong.
★
And justice to be our
aim
★
redress the wrong done
to others, that is to rectify or repay ( like
Zacchaues)
★
Hear the orphan and
defend the widow, in other words take care of the needy, weak and vulnerable or
neglected people around.
Therefore
every authoritative behaviour clubbed with arrogance and dominance and
presuming the superior needs to be avoided.
Rather through empowering and enabling others one can wash clean. One
can free from the clutches of the fantasy world, false honesty, admiration and
appreciation.
As a result there is hope of being
accepted by God and being blessed accordingly.
God
blesses us when we present ourselves honestly before with all our mistakes,
imperfection but if we try to act, disguise, refuse and resist and crave for
the title and authority. God does not accept, He is not pleased with us. So let this lent be a time to turn from hypocrisy to honesty.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they
may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as
wool.”
(Isaiah 1:18)
whoever humbles himself will be
exalted."( Matthew 223:12)
Tuesday
of the Second Week of Lent
Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Mt 23:1-12
Hypocrisy ➡️ Honesty
Dear
Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, the readings of the day strictly warns us
of the false attitude we develop under
the guise of religiosity (devotion) and goodness.
In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah
addresses the people, and the leaders as princes of Sodom and people of
Gomorrah, very strong words to call them like that. But God saw them in a
similar situation, evil in their actions and rebelling, disobeying and sinning
against God. At the same time they were behaving and doing all kinds of
religious activities presuming that God would be pleased. However, the prophet
clearly states God does not accept this dichotomy between their external
disposition through offerings and internal evil nature. They are full of
dishonesty and hypocrisy.
Similarly in the Gospel too,
Jesus points out the hypocrisy of Pharisees in general but it can be applied to
all of us, the elders, the leaders.
Jesus states that
●
They don’t practise
what they preach
●
They do superficially
in order to attract admiration and appreciation.
They
act as the authority in relation to spiritual and religious matters, they are
happy to lay burdens on others but not ready to help. They are happy to preach
extensively from one end to another but not ready to internalise the
practicality of it.
In
general, we know with regard to certain authorities we expect them to be aware
of their field and we are happy to listen.
the doctor about things medical, the lawyer about things legal, the
priest about things spiritual, the parent about family matters.
Unfortunately
there is even in our society and community
today a lot of dishonesty and hypocrisy in people’s attitude and there
is a void of integrity and honesty in us, also in the authoritative figures in
their fields. People are after fancy admiration than factual fostering of one's
life.
God
indeed condemns this behaviour and warns strictly but his desire is not to
punish unless we deserve. Instead He calls upon us for a change of heart,
change of behaviour, repentance.
Therefore the Lord says
“Wash yourselves clean! Come now, let us set things
right”.(Isaiah
1:16) He wishes to make our life wholesome again, and blessed
abundantly.
And how are we to wash ourselves clean and make
things right. Is it just by increasing our prayers,
our offerings and making a repentant prayer or just confession alone.
In addition to that,
★
Cease to do evil and
impure things
★
Depart from all the
occasions of temptations, doing wrong.
★
And justice to be our
aim
★
redress the wrong done
to others, that is to rectify or repay ( like
Zacchaues)
★
Hear the orphan and
defend the widow, in other words take care of the needy, weak and vulnerable or
neglected people around.
Therefore
every authoritative behaviour clubbed with arrogance and dominance and
presuming the superior needs to be avoided.
Rather through empowering and enabling others one can wash clean. One
can free from the clutches of the fantasy world, false honesty, admiration and
appreciation.
As a result there is hope of being
accepted by God and being blessed accordingly.
God
blesses us when we present ourselves honestly before with all our mistakes,
imperfection but if we try to act, disguise, refuse and resist and crave for
the title and authority. God does not accept, He is not pleased with us. So let this lent be a time to turn from hypocrisy to honesty.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they
may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as
wool.”
(Isaiah 1:18)
whoever humbles himself will be
exalted."( Matthew 223:12)
FR. JAYARAJU MANTHENA OCD
