Jesus said: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides. who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean."
The Word in other words
I have been in the priestly ministry long enough, 27 years in all and I have accumulated many different kinds of experiences, bad and good, wholesome and undesirable. I have seen how the church and all its members carry on the task of bringing the gospel message to the poor, the task we all vowed to do when we accepted baptism as Christians. But it seems that in many instances this sense of commitment is hard to come by, beginning with me and all the way up to the church hierarchy. Undeniably, save in the case of the few who are truthful to their calling to serve, the church and its members are, in fact, more at the receiving than at the giving end of service. Many are living protected and comfortable lives, blessed with good food, driving their personal vehicles, wearing signature clothes and traveling more than even before. In urban settings, one cant;s fail to notice the right in the vicinity of majestic cathedrals are street families that eke out a living a selling devotional candles, acting as informal park attendants and begging. The contrast between the rich and the poor is stark.
Hypocrisy is defined as claiming to have possessed virtues that one lacks. And since it involves deception, it can be categorized as a form of lie. Christ in the gospel for today is harsh and strong against the scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites for they were only liars by preaching virtues they did not have; they were also making the life of the people unbearable in the name of their religion and laws.
Many of us are guilty of the same Pharasaical attitude. We can only beat our breasts and say, "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa." We have much cleansing to do with ourselves. But isnt't that the God we have is the God of mercy and compassion, slow to judge and quick to forgive and understand? I believe it boils down to our sincerity to learn, to internalize the gospel message, to be open to self-formation, to have the humility to accept our own weaknesses and to trust n the healing power of the divine intervention.
- Fr. Eugene Docoy, SVD (USC, Cebu City)
