Are you the one who talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk?
Malachi 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10; 1 Thes 2:7B-9, 13; Mat 23:1-12
Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap
I heard a story told of a man who, when asked by a pastor why he didn’t come to church with his family, replied, “Because the church is filled with hypocrites.” To which the pastor responded, “That’s okay. There’s always room for one more.”
In today’s gospel Jesus speaks about hypocrites. According to the dictionary, a hypocrite is “a person who pretends to have beliefs or practices which he or she does not actually possess.” As used in the Bible, the term comes from ancient Greek theatre, where one actor would often play two parts. When saying something humorous, he would hold up a mask with a smiley face; when playing a tragic part, he would hold up a mask with a sad face. A good actor could imitate the speech, mannerisms, and conduct of the character he was portraying. The word literally means, “One who hides behind a mask.”
We humans have a tendency to impress others, want to be seen as successful, or better than others. Just like many people today, the Pharisees wanted others to see them as special and treat them as though they are closer to God than anyone else. They wanted others to be impressed with their piety and holiness. They wanted to appear religious without actually being religious. Their philosophy was, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Some of the harshest words Jesus ever spoke were directed toward professional religious pretenders. In just one speech, in Matthew 23, He called them: Hypocrites (7 times), Fools (2 times), Blind Guides (5 times), Serpents and Brood of Vipers (1 time)
But what about us? Jesus pronounced seven woes on the Pharisees because their religion was all outward. They never truly knew God nor allowed Him to enter into their hearts. Jesus speaks about the danger of externalizing religion. It’s so easy to focus on religious routines that we forget the necessity of cultivating a love relationship with Jesus. Instead of intensifying the internal, some of us only express the external. Therefore, today lot of church going people play Charades. It’s difficult to believe Christianity is true when so many of its followers lead such contradictory lives. John Stott said this about hypocrisy: “Hypocrisy is hideous. What cancer is to the body, hypocrisy is to the church. It’s a killing agent. Unfortunately, hypocrisy is also addictive. And even though Jesus reserved His most severe words of condemnation for the hypocrite, we still seem to prefer that lifestyle to truth and authenticity.”
My dear brothers and sisters if you’re investigating Christianity, and you see imperfect Christians, I encourage you not to make a decision on the basis of the unfinished product — make your decision on the basis of the person of Christ.
“We’re all like the moon, we have a dark side we don’t want anyone to see.” Mark Twain
