Wednesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time

2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Psalm 111(112):1-4,9
Matthew 6:1-6,​16-18

THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, WE NAVIGATE OUR WAY TOWARD PERFECTION

In the vibrant world of Jesus’ day, the term “hypocrite” was synonymous with the dazzling realm of acting. Imagine the performers on stage, skillfully slipping into the roles crafted by brilliant playwrights. There was no connection between the characters they portrayed and their personal lives; these actors were masters of illusion. A hypocrite, fully aware of their role, embraced the art of deception. They dedicated themselves to perfecting this craft, living a double life—even if it was just for a spell.

When Jesus speaks about hypocrites, he’s not addressing the universal human struggle to do good while evading evil. No, he’s shining a light on something much deeper. He refers to those who consciously choose to lead a double life—a life of secret sin paired with a seemingly virtuous public facade. For them, it’s all about maintaining an image of goodness, donning a mask, and playing a part for the audience.

Do we sometimes stumble? Absolutely! Do we always say and do the right thing? Not a chance! But that doesn’t make us hypocrites—that simply makes us aware of our humanity. By the grace of God, we navigate our imperfections.

Some might willingly choose hypocrisy, but before our transformation, before we answered Jesus’ call to follow him, we too may have played the hypocrite’s game, doing things just to earn a favorable judgment, all while leading a life full of sin.

What we truly desire is to be good people. We yearn to walk with integrity, to be authentic followers of Jesus. We want to confront our darker tendencies and rise above them, empowered by God’s grace. We want to emulate the love and compassion that Jesus so effortlessly modeled.

As we come to understand God as a loving, merciful Father—one who sees our hearts through the lens of Love—we embark on the thrilling journey of holiness. This journey is not about instant perfection; it’s an exhilarating adventure that starts fresh every day with a pure intention to follow Jesus. We step forward, confident that the God who knows all sees us through a loving gaze! Let us continue the journey of holiness anew!

Fr Joseph Osho