Daily Thought For August 26, 2020
Avoiding the Snare of the Pharisees
Lectio
Matthew 23:27–32
Meditatio
“… on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.”
Jesus sounds harsh in his rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees in this Gospel. It might sound as if he is rebuking some terrible sinners. But the people of Jesus’ day did not consider the scribes and Pharisees as sinners, as they did the tax collectors and prostitutes. The scribes were religious professionals—something like priests and religious today. And the Pharisees were laymen who were trying to live their faith fully, beyond the bare minimum—something like Catholics who go to daily Mass. Jesus’ rebuke is also addressed to us. On the outside we may look like good and holy people. Jesus isn’t saying that we shouldn’t. It’s praiseworthy to raise our children conscientiously; dress modestly; and give of our time, talent, and treasure in charitable works. But what is on the inside? What is in our hearts? Jesus comes back to this many times in the Gospel.
“Evildoing” is a strong word. How do we do evil “inside”? Even if our actions—the things we do—are good on the surface, in our hearts we can have thoughts and motives that are less than good. For example, we might be judgmental of others, considering ourselves better because of our good actions. Or we might envy others, hoping they will fail or that something negative about them will come to light so we will appear better by comparison. The possibilities are endless! It’s important to remember that temptation is not the same as evildoing. We might have the temptation to envy someone—in other words, the feeling comes to us, unbidden. But if we are truthful with ourselves, we will know whether we resisted that thought or gave it room in our heart. Jesus is pointing out that we need to keep careful watch over our hearts, so that our actions might flow out of a good heart as we follow him.
Oratio
Jesus, give me the courage and honesty to look into my own heart and find the hypocrisy and evildoing that I have allowed to enter but which I want to clear out of my life. I know I must do this interior work regularly because, despite my best intentions, I allow certain things to creep back in. Jesus, my heart is for you. Help me keep it free and loving, that you may dwell there.
Contemplatio
My heart belongs to you, Lord.
Daughters of St. Paul. (2011). Ordinary Grace Weeks 18–34: Daily Gospel Reflections. (M. G. Dateno & M. L. Trouvé, Eds.) (pp. 70–71). Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media.