“Doing away with the ‘hypocritical and tactical’ tendency and adopting the ‘way of humility & truth!'”

(Based on Isa 1:10, 16-20 and Mt 23:1-12 – Tuesday of the 2nd Week in Lent)

Here is an interesting letter from a boy to a girl:

“Dearest Marie,

No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt…
… since breaking our engagement.
>> Please say you’ll take me back.
>> No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me.
I love you, I love you, I love you!

Yours forever, Jimmy


P.S., And yeah… congratulations on winning the state bumper lottery!”


That’s how very often, our attitudes and approaches in life are!
>> We tend to get very manipulative
And thus, we end up being…
… hypocritical and calculative in our relations
… haughty and proud in our behaviour


The call of the Gospel is to do away with this “hypocritical and tactical” tendency…
… and to adopt the “way of humility & truth!”


Am I a person who is willing to lower myself in humility?

Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt 23: 12)


The 23rd Chapter of the Gospel of St Matthew begins with Jesus turning the attention of His disciples and of the crowds…
… towards the Scribes and the Pharisees.


Focusing on the religious leaders and on their practices, Jesus launches a volley of critically true statements about their wicked misdeeds!
>> The chapter ends with the “Painful Lament” by Jesus over Jerusalem – the city of the Lord!


One of the highlights in this highly volatile and strongly-worded chapter is the number of times Jesus mentions the two groups of people – “Scribes and Pharisees”

There is, in total, 7 occurrences of the phrase, “Scribes and Pharisees” – a biblical number for totality!
>> This chapter is a therefore, a full-blown critique and condemnation of the ways of the Scribes and Pharisees.


Why is Jesus so outright in His condemnation, so merciless in His usage of words and so blatant in His attacks on the Scribes and Pharisees?


(Meanwhile, when we go through these critical attacks of our Blessed Lord on this group, one must always remember the words of Jesus Himself: “I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” [Lk 5:32]

There was deep pain in the heart of the Lord, in seeing the way religion was being manhandled, misused and misinterpreted by the religious leaders of His time
>> As the Son of His Beloved Father, it was hurting for the Son to see a section of people, trampling upon God’s precious and venerable truths…
… and twisting them for their own self-interests and self-agenda
>> A strong form of condemnation was reserved only to those who were hardened in heart – as a means for them to repent and turn back their ways to the Lord.

The method of ‘sharp condemnation’ was reserved only to the proud and the arrogant; never to the poor sinners!)


The reason for Jesus making a scathing attack on the religious authorities of His times…
… could be summarized into one crucial point: Glorification of one’s own self at the expense of the Glory of God and the Mercy deserving for His people!

Therefore, Jesus goes on to point out the many occasions and circumstances when the Self-Interest of the Pharisees and Scribes took extreme priority over God Himself!


It is this self-centred and self-glorifying act that makes Jesus to tell, “For they preach, but they do not practise!” (Mt 23: 3b)


How easily can this be our own state of affairs, in our life…!

We may be people…
… who “appear” to be very fine and kind – but perhaps, we are persons who find it too hard to let go of our pride, in reaching out to the needy, in humble service!
… who speak a lot on helping others and being generous – but perhaps, we go through grilling moments in lowering ourselves and adopting a lowly status to extend a helping hand!
… who desire happiness in communities and peace at homes – but perhaps, we discover
ourselves to be persons who are unwilling to let go of our ego, and allow a listening ear to the opinions of others!


The call, today, therefore is…
… to “work for a cause – not applause!”
… to “live life to express – and not simply to impress!”


We are called to avoid being hypocritical and calculative!

Yes…
Let’s do away with “hypocritical and tactical” tendency…
… and adopt the “way of humility & truth!”


God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
LIFE IN CHRIST – PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE
>> The diversity of political regimes is morally acceptable…
… provided they serve the legitimate good of the communities that adopt them. (CCC # 1901)
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