Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
(I Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew23:27-32)
In today’s gospel Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees
“hypocrites.” This abrasive term comes from a Greek word meaning actor. Jesus is telling his adversaries that they
are malfeasants playing the roles of righteous men. Truly good people would not criticize others
so harshly as they customarily do.
In contrast to the Pharisees of the gospel, Paul acts
without pretense. He tells the Thessalonians
that he does not preach for money but plies his trade for sustenance. Rather than look for compensation, Paul
shares his knowledge of the word of God out of love. He wants the Thessalonians to appreciate how God
the Father has sent his Son to show His infinite mercy. No one has to feel damned by past errors or
doomed to repeat them. They only need to
repent and ask God’s mercy.
Religious people often behave hypocritically. Religion provides good cover for them to
embezzle or even to hate. Being religious
people ourselves, we should take to heart not only Jesus’ words but also his
self-sacrifice. He completed the mission
the Father gave him. We can only thank
both Father and Son and emulate their example.
