HOMILY FOR MONDAY, 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME B
2THESS 1:1-5. 11b-12; MATT 23: 13-22
As we continue to reflect on discernment, let us pray that God will give us His grace to be able to choose areas of our lives that will bring and give glory to God.
The first reading presents to us Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. Encouraging them to continue in their steadfastness and their faith because they have proven beyond doubt that God made right judgment about them to propagate the gospel amidst persecutions.
In the gospel, Jesus condemns hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is essentially saying one thing and doing another. It’s a disconnect between what we say and what we do. Unlike the first reading where Paul praises the Thessalonians, Jesus on the other side rebukes the Scribes and Pharisees because of their hypocrisy. Though there are many lessons we can learn from our Lord, let’s consider the first thing He says. He condemns hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy can come in the form of trying to present oneself as if one has every virtue under Heaven but in reality cares little for the clear doctrine and moral precepts given us by God. In the scripture passage, the scribes and Pharisees claimed to be leading people to salvation, but they were condemning the very source of salvation. On the one hand, some of what they taught was true, but they failed to teach with the virtue that comes from God. On the other hand, some of what they taught was flat-out erroneous, because they were more concerned about their public persona than they were about the truth. Essentially, they were hypocrites, because their words and actions were neither united in the truth nor lived through the virtues given by God.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the first thing we must do away is hypocrisy by preaching doctrine but failing to exercise or act on the necessary virtue so as to be effective instruments of truths. Invariably, we must practice what we preach. We must embrace steadfastness. A virtue that promotes good and credible personality with values. When we do these, we can now win souls for God and spread the gospel effectively.
PAX VOBIS
Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, Kwara State,
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