31ST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A 23

31st SUNDAY, 05 NOVEMBER 2023, MATTHEW 23. 1-12   Focus: Hypocrisy is ruinous! IIndicative: Hypocrisy is one real danger that creeps into our religious practices. If we are not cautious, it can easily turn us very conceited, deceiving ourselves, and deceiving others as well   1. Jesus comes up heavily against the Pharisees and scribes on account of their hypocrisy. Their religious practices were like a body without a soul. They performed many pious activities but without the real spirit and an authentic heart. Their life did not correspond to their teaching. 2. They did not practice what they taught the people. There was a wide chasm between their creed and deed. They demanded so much from the people, which they themselves did not follow. 3. Further, they do all their observances, not with the pure intention of love for God and pleasing Him. It was with the motive of making a show, displaying their pity, and seeking applause and praise. They sought always self-glory and not God’s glory. 4. Their hypocrisy is all the more seen in their total lack of humility. They love the best seats, best titles, best greetings, and best honours. They love to be addressed and honored as a rabbi, teachers, and masters. They always seek to exalt themselves. 5. The same virus of hypocrisy is real in our case as well. It has been vigorously devouring quite many in the church, leaving aside the outside world. The steep dichotomy between what we profess and what we practice, between what we believe and what we live, is quite real. Being so lenient and indulgent toward self but being stringent and exacting toward others too, is quite real. 6. A virulent trend of seeking self-interests and self-glory, excessive craving for titles, honour, and ranks, is very true. Lack of humility is at its peak. In this context, it is exigent to bear in mind the admonition and corrective of Jesus: 7. No one is a teacher because there is only one teacher; no one is a master because there is only one master; no one is a father because there is only one father. This should make us realize that our addresses or titles or functions are not our identities. 8. We may teach but we are not teachers; we may be fathering but we are not fathers; we may master others but we are not masters. Our identity is always being children of God, servants, and followers, friends of Christ. Imperative: Humility and authenticity alone will make our religiosity and spirituality profound, witnessing and pleasing in the sight of God. They are the need of the hour!       (Reflection 2)  Thrust: Hypocrisy is abominable! Indicative: Duplicity and disintegration are two viral trends that are disfiguring the quality of life. As long as one does not try to be honest and harmonious, one cannot live a meaningful life   1. For more than two years in the carona times, we were living a mask-culture. Obviously, it is for health reasons as a safety measure. But the irony is that all of us have been living a masked culture much before. Life is steeped into bundles of pretensions, deceptions, and contradictions. 2. People say one thing but do another thing. They have one thing inside but say or do another outside. They say in front one thing but another behind. Many appear to be one thing but really are quite opposite. 3. This is what hypocrisy is. This was the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus could never tolerate that. He would be sympathetic even toward any weakness or failure. But he was always severe against hypocrisy. This is quite understandable. Hypocrisy strikes at the very roots of humility and honesty. 4. The Pharisees and scribes taught the people what to do but they themselves would not do it. They were very strict with others about following the law but they were indulgent toward themselves. They performed many religious activities like prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. But it was not out of conviction or deep devotion. They sought titles and places of honour. It was all a show and seeking self-glory. 5. They failed to realise that the titles of honour like rabbi, teacher, master, et cetera are not our identities. They are only pointers to our functions and responsibilities. They remind us that we are people of honour and therefore must do everything with a sense of honour and dignity. Titles and offices do not make us honourable. Rather they flow out as expressions of our honourability.   Imperative: Different titles, offices, and honours are not to be platforms for self-glory. Rather all of them should help us to become more authentic in our consecration and effective in our mission