DAILY HOMILIES #hypocrisy

Jesus accused the scribes and Pharisees of not teaching the truth regarding swearing and oath-taking. Jesus called them blind guides because they were teaching things that they themselves did not even know.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus likened the Scribes and Pharisees to whitewashed tombs which were beautiful to look at from the outside but were full of dead men’s bones inside. If people get close to me, would they see something different from what I portray in public?

Let us examine our consciences and repent. We should not be so interested in attempting to convert anyone as much as we should be interested in living in the light ourselves.

While people were busy pointing fingers, Jesus was busy winning a soul to himself. While others were calling names, Matthew was busy examining his conscience. In the end, this same Matthew became one of the greatest Evangelists of all time.

Aren’t we being hypocrites when we pray just so that people may hear us pray? Know this: it is never between you and them, it is always between you and God.

Since truth is bitter, whenever we are told the truth, it tends to sound like an insult to us. No one is perfect. You are not always as good as you like to assume. Be humble, be willing to learn.

The hypocrite knows the house is dirty and smelling, he goes ahead to paint the outside walls but allows the inside to decay even more. The Christian knows the house is dirty and smelling, he begins the washing from the inside gradually, cleans everywhere before painting the outside.

Let us examine ourselves today: Do I practice what I preach? Am living in pretence? Do I do in secret those things I condemn in public?

n the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus basically told us that as Christians, we are called to be the Noah’s of this world when He said: “You are the salt of the earth… (and) You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-14). Salt preserves. Noah, by his goodness, preserved the entire world from going extinct. Be good! Be different!