For three consecutive days we have been reading in the Gospel how Jesus, in violent terms, denounced the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. How can we justify that? It seems so uncharitable, so unlike “the gentle Jesus”.
What if we used similar terms toward villainous people that come into our lives? The answer is God does not judge on appearances, we do.
Only God sees the heart of each person and invites all to fidelity to the truth. His condemnation therefore is an act of love, a plea to put aside what poses as truth; to embrace real truth, his Word.
The sin of the Pharisees was plugging their ears to hearing that truth. Christ’s condemnation was based on love, inviting them to be honest.
It is easy to be deaf and blind to evil, and to join in criticizing anyone who calls attention to the elephant in the parlor. Of course, we must be charitable; we must be prudent. But we cannot allow ourselves to fall into the sin of those Pharisees Jesus condemned.
Let us pray today for courage to acknowledge truth, and let us ask the Lord to give the same grace in double measure to our bishops and religious superiors.