Are you among the Righteous or the Hypocrites?
Are you among the Righteous or the Hypocrites?
Gospel Reflection for Monday, August 26th, 2024
USCCB Daily Reading for August 26th, 2024
Our gospel message today is prefaced by the first reading found in 2nd Thessalonians. In the wisdom of the Church, she wants us to focus on this juxtaposition between the authenticity of the righteous in whom Paul speaks in his letter compared to Jesus’ cursing woes of the pharisees and scribes.
A core feature of the Thessalonian letters—and much of Paul’s work—is the belief of an imminent end times (Parousia). The righteous find themselves in an in-between stage of those who have fallen asleep and the just judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul continuously gives the faithful assurance of their state of righteousness. We find in Paul’s Letter to the Romans (chapter 5-8) that the righteous who are waiting for the imminent second coming are equipped with the good news of being found justified by the sacrifice of Christ. The Spirit has been given to the faithful, as Paul explains, “and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.”[1]
In truth—our faith, our baptism, living the sacramental life; we find ourselves in the beginning through God’s election at the finish line. Jesus has called us by name, and we are His sheep. What is a key attribute found in the righteous? It is perseverance through suffering. For many of us, we begin at the finish line, but find ourselves lost in the wilderness of sin. Paul asks, “Are you so stupid? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?”[2]
The readings today are an examination of conscience. How many of us throughout our lives find ourselves among the elect of the righteous—and then realize we’re the hypocrites, the Pharisees. How many of us confuse our vision, our tastes, our desires for God’s will? We’re leaders of our parishes, we appear the person of God—but is our faith authentic? Do we have a faith of perseverance and love of God? Theologian Barbara Reid explains in today’s gospel, “the religious leaders are repeatedly called “hypocrites”—a term that originally referred to an actor, one who put on a mask to assume another personage.”[3]
Let us be mindful of the masks we may wear among our brothers and sisters. Remember, we are children of the light, and the day is short, let us not be caught off guard. Remember, the sacrament of confession is a valuable gift from our Lord, and it takes us back to our beginning, back to the finish line among the righteous—use it.
[1] Rom. 5:5
[2] Gal. 3:3
[3] Barbara E. Reid, “The Gospel according to Matthew,” in New Testament, ed. Daniel Durken, The New Collegeville Bible Commentary (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2009), 71–72.
Philip, I like your idea of being at the finish line while simultaneously fighting to stay there. I used to be a sprinter. My coach would always remind us that the difference between first and sixth was a matter of inches at the finish line. It is those last few inches that are the hardest and define victory. Speaking for myself …. Every time I sin I am standing with the Pharisees, a hypocrite. The difference is, I don’t really want to be there. It takes persistence. I always think of Mother Teresa’s struggle in her relationship with God. What made the difference for her is her iron will to never abandon God despite the feeling at times that she had been abandoned. She was always authentic.
Thanks Deacon, I formed the notion while reading a commentary on reading Paul through the lens of the motif the end of age. Since Paul is writing thinking the end of the age is imminent—he writes with a confidence that if believers persevere, they’re already found among the elect.
When I use to teach Catechism, I use to have the children turn their back to an icon of Jesus that was in our room. I’d explain that when we’re baptized we’re face to face with Jesus, but when we choose to sin we turn away from him & wander away from the finish line so to speak.
The Hebrew word for repentance is shüv & I use to have the kids repeat the word & turn toward Jesus as a reminder of what happens when we confess our sins during the sacrament. The word shüv literally translates to turn towards & so it was a fun little exercise.