DAILY HOMILIES #pharisees

Love is the ability to see God in others, especially in those suffering, hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, etc. No law is superior to the law of love. On the last day, we shall be judged by how we kept this law of love: how we helped others and how we behaved, not like the Pharisees.

Who is a Christian? St. Paul answers in today’s first reading: A person blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places; chosen in Christ to be holy and blameless; destined in love to be united to God in the fullness of time. A Christian is different, not like everybody else. A Christian is chosen for holiness, to shine a light – to give the world an example.

Starve your flesh and feed your spirit. As St. Paul says, “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2). Surround yourself with good books, holy pictures, videos and other sound materials. Filter your social media consumption. Take part in spiritual activities, and spend more time praying, studying the Bible, and meditating daily. Fast from whatever leads you away from God. You will know when you are progressing if your life radiates these virtues: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Do you know God will judge us even for the thoughts we allow into our hearts? You might say, “No one knows what I am thinking… I only thought about it; I didn’t do it.” This is how the Pharisees thought, and Jesus called them fools. First, your thoughts are not hidden from God, and second, thinking evil is equivalent to doing evil. Lust is adultery, and anger is murder. (cf. Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). “For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:34-35)

Where are our watchmen today? Where are those prepared to die for speaking truth to power? Have we become carried away by the Gospel of prosperity or sold our conscience by collecting bribes from those in power? When will we realise that worshipping God goes beyond merely trying to make people feel good? It is easy to point fingers at priests and religious for not condemning the government in their sermons, but let us ask ourselves: what stops me from becoming a watchman for God?

As a Christian, if people get close to me, would they see something different from what I portray in public? Do I even believe the things I preach? Do I expect anyone to believe me if I am not convinced about right and wrong? How do I hope to convert a single soul if I am still an unbeliever? How long will I keep hiding, hoping my secrets will never be exposed?

Jesus did not condemn tithing; He said it is less important than justice, mercy, and faith. This means that on the last day, God will never ask why you refused to pay your tithes. Instead, He will ask you why you failed to practice justice, mercy and faith. We will be judged for failing to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and the prisoners, etc. If you do not feel like tithing or you do not believe in it, you are not sinning.

We may lie to the world about who we are, but we can never lie to God. The worst kind of life (and the most miserable too) is living in pretence; projecting a false image of yourself like an actor on stage. Funny enough, the movie comes to an end too quickly, and the audience gets to know the true identity of the characters. As Jesus said: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2)

Jesus explained that it is not what one eats or how one eats that defiles him. Instead, it is the content of one’s heart that defiles a person. If we seek to be pure, the washing must first begin within our very heart. This is the kind of washing God promised the children of Israel in today’s first reading. “You shall (once again) be my people and I will be your God.”

Micah says: “Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds!” (Micah 2:1a). You are a wicked person if you wish evil for or plan the destruction and downfall of others. Another characteristic of wicked people is arrogance; they are so power-drunk that they are not scared of anybody. They are not even scared of God. As today’s Psalm says: “For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart, those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord. In the pride of their countenance, the wicked say, ‘God will not seek it out’; all their thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 10:3-4).

Today’s Gospel passage shows us that Jesus was truly human, implying that God understands the meaning of hunger. God knows how it feels to be so hungry that you begin to chew paper (or anything that meets your eye). Whether we like it or not, there is hunger in our country today; people are ready to do anything to survive. We may want to judge them like the Pharisees who condemned Jesus and his disciples. However, before pointing fingers at anybody, ask yourself: “What have I done to help?” The story is about a boy who is brought to court for stealing bread. After listening critically to the case, the judge fined all who had arrested the boy. God desires mercy and not sacrifice

The worst kind of enemy is the one who comes to you as a friend. It is easier to avoid a known enemy than to hide from an enemy who pretends to love you. In today’s Gospel passage, the Pharisees and Herodians came to Jesus pretending to be his friends. They began by praising him. Who doesn’t like to be praised? Be careful of praise singers. Not all that glitters is gold.