Daily Reflections

June 29, 2011
GREAT THINGS COME IN PAIRS

Today we honor a pair of really great saints: Sts. Peter and Paul. Although both saints did have their differences and even conflicts with one another during their lifetimes, Christian art, architecture and liturgy (since the first century down to the present day) emphasize the bond of friendship between them.
Sts. Peter and Paul are associated with the city of Rome, where their tombs and basilicas are located. But in one not-so-well-known church in the city, the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo, you can find two marvelous paintings of the two saints, accomplished by the terrific 16th century painter Caravaggio. They are known with these titles: The Fall of St. Paul and The Crucifixion of Peter. A simple Internet search can help you visualize these. Contemplating them may even reveal an interesting contrast (and at the same time a complementariness) between two aspects of these two saints, and consequently two aspects as well of our Catholic Church.
The first is the scene of the conversion of Saul, more than just his fall from the horse. He is lying flat on his back, with arms outstretched, completely fallen on the ground. The second painting, is the scene of the inverted crucifixion of Peter. He is depicted as already positioned on his cross and being raised up. Some art experts and commentators say it is a symbol of Jesus’ founding of the Church upon the faith of Peter (today’s Gospel). And so, if in the first we have a falling down or a conversion, in the second it is a raising up.
Aren’t these two aspects also in all of us members of the Church? There is in us, and in the Church as a whole, both a falling down and a rising up, a conversion and an establishment. Sure, the Church is never without crises and reforms. But as the Jesuit theologian Gerald O’Collins pointed out, “If the Church is going to face satisfactorily the challenges posed by the forces that currently move and change the world, both fidelity and freedom are needed.” “ Fidelity and freedom”— now that’s another nice pair of good things. May Sts. Peter and Paul help us maintain them as well. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Identify one aspect in the life of Sts. Peter and Paul that you want to emulate.

Grant me, Lord, the grace to follow you radically as Sts. Peter and Paul did. Amen.

St. Mary, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 28, 2011
IN THE STORMS OF LIFE: FEAR OR FAITH?

The setting of today’s Gospel episode should be quite easy to identify with. Not all of us may have actually experienced being in the middle of the sea during a terrifying storm, but we can easily imagine what it is.
Human life is far from being in a luxury cruise on a placid sea. In the storms of life, we are sometimes violently tossed to and fro; the waves of discouragement assail us, the horizon is not visible at all and we fear we would all sink.
Two temptations are before us. One is to conclude that such an inhuman world is absurd, and that the only adequate response is to harden ourselves in a kind of stoic pride. The other is to escape from reality into the make-believe world of fun and fantasy.
Jesus, instead, proposes an alternative: quite simply, to trust Him. The two temptations before us now morph into the crucial question: which of the two F’s will it be for us? Fear or Faith?
We can take a cue from Jesus Himself. The Gospel states that at the height of the storm, Jesus was “sleeping soundly.” Whether or not this was literally true is not so much the point. It is simply a gesture of a childlike, total trust on God, knowing that He takes care of us and will never abandon us, most especially when we are in the midst of trials and difficulties.
A story goes that a little boy was simply enjoying his time, frolicking and playing on the deck of a luxury cruise ship — as a storm was beginning to form in the middle of the ocean. In the midst of the panic as life jackets began to be passed around, a man noticed the boy. He asked him, “Are you not afraid, my boy?” To which the young boy replied, “No, I’m not. My father is the captain of the ship.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Which feeling dominates you more when you are faced with life’s storms: fear or faith?

“When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father, You are King over the flood. I will be still, know You are God.”

St. Vincenza Gerosa, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 27, 2011
BARGAINING WITH THE LORD

Both readings today present a kind of “bargaining.” In the first reading, we have Abraham pleading on behalf of the people of Sodom; in the Gospel, two prospective followers of Jesus try to bargain with Him.
The strange thing is that in both readings, the final result of the bargaining isn’t mentioned.
In the first reading, we can easily check it in the rest of the Book of Genesis. But in the Gospel, we do not know what happened eventually with that scribe who presented himself and with the other one who asked permission from the Lord to let him go and bury his father first. Our Lord answered their pleas quite curtly as well as cryptically.
Certainly Jesus isn’t one who will waste His words on wavering wimps or sugar-coat them into attractive enticements just to adjust to His prospective disciples’ tastes. We can almost hear Him say, “If you don’t want to (or if you can’t seem to) follow me, well, no problem!” The loss wouldn’t be on Jesus at all, should anyone back out because of such a radical message. Whatever it is, the burden of the proof is always on the one being invited, the one who first hears Jesus’ call.
Using other examples from the Gospel, religious educator and writer James DiGiacomo, S.J., puts it beautifully, “[Jesus] is unwavering in His determination to tell it like it is, no matter what the cost. If this uncompromising honesty leaves Him with few or even no disciples, then so be it. He is organizing a trip through the narrow gate, and crowds need not apply. If the rich young man cannot stand the idea of not being rich, let him stay home and count his money. If the young fishermen aren’t ready to leave their nets, they’re not ready to follow Him. If Peter doesn’t want to hear about the Cross, he can stay in Caesarea Philippi where it’s safe, but the first team is going to Jerusalem” (Morality and Youth: Fostering Christian Identity). Hopefully, in the end, we will not need at all to bargain with the Lord because in the first place, we shall be unwavering in our following Him. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Have you ever bargained with the Lord? Are you still hemming and hawing in totally following Him?

Free me, Lord, from whatever is pulling me back from taking my spiritual journey seriously. Amen.

St. Laszlo, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 27, 2011
1st READING
God is indeed a merciful God and Abraham a bold man to approach God as he did. It is important for us to learn from the boldness of Abraham but also to know that, if we are going to put such a proposal before God, we will be able to deliver accordingly. We can be sure that God will be merciful but can we ensure that people will respond to His mercy? Let us pray that we all receive and act upon the grace to repent given to us by God.

Genesis 18:16-33
16 Abraham and the men who had visited him by the Terebinth of Mamre set out from there and looked down toward Sodom; Abraham was walking with them, to see them on their way. 17 The LORD reflected: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? 19 Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his sons and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him.” 20 Then the LORD said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, 21 that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out.” 22 While the two men walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham. 23 Then Abraham drew nearer to him and said: “Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 24 Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty, so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?” 26 The LORD replied, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham spoke up again: “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes! 28 What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?” “I will not destroy it,” he answered, “if I find forty-five there.” 29 But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?” He replied, “I will forebear doing it for the sake of the forty.” 30 Then he said, “Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will forebear doing it if I can find but thirty there.” 31 Still he went on, “Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?” “I will not destroy it,” he answered, “for the sake of the twenty.” 32 But he still persisted: “Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?” “For the sake of those ten,” he replied, “I will not destroy it.” 33 The LORD departed as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.

P S A L M

Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 10-11
R: The Lord is kind and merciful.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 9 He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. (R) 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus makes it very clear to those who want to follow Him that it will not be an easy life. The life of discipleship is about being disciplined in all things especially those that have to do with our faith. This means being willing to make the hard choices involved in avoiding sin and doing good. If we are not ready to do this then we had better pray for the grace of surrender because the longer we leave such a decision, the more difficult it will get.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 8:18-22
18 When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. 19 A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

my reflections
t h i n k: We can be sure that God will be merciful but can we ensure that people will respond to His mercy?

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 26-30

Daily Reflections

June 26, 2011

THE SACRAMENT OF TOTAL SELF-GIVING

“I have nothing more to give you.” These are words engraved on the inside of a gold ring (most probably a wedding ring), together with a tiny drawing of a hand holding a heart. This beautiful ring was but one of the interesting finds from a sunken 16thcentury Spanish galleon, discovered and retrieved by deep-sea divers off the coast of Ireland.
“I have nothing more to give you.” It’s as if Jesus Christ Himself uttered these words when we consider today’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord. Although of course you won’t find such a sentence in the Gospel, Jesus’ very life itself speaks of the statement, “I have nothing more to give you.” Yes, everything is already there in the Eucharist, in the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is this kind of total and absolute quality of Jesus that also characterized His insistence to the Jews in today’s Gospel episode. No partial understandings or half-hearted commitments would ever suffice.
So should it be for us, too. How easy it is for us to take for granted the Holy Mass or the Eucharist; how easy it is to fall into apathy and indifference when it comes to this great sacrament. Our beautiful and even air-conditioned churches and chapels, the Masses conveniently held in malls and offices, the availability of priests for Masses on request — all these should never lull us to complacency. If only we approach each and every Holy Communion as if it were both our First Holy Communion and our Viaticum! What innocence we had back then when we received Jesus for the first time. As for the Viaticum, the term suggests the Sacred Host as our baon or food provision as we undertake our journey to eternity.
Hopefully, we, too, will give God our all — our lives, our selves, our everything — totally and absolutely. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
In the Eucharist, Jesus gave His all. How do you receive Him?

May I always receive worthily Your most precious gift in the Eucharist, Lord.

St. Perseveranda, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 23, 2011
THE CONCLUSION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Our Gospel reading today is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, and a fitting conclusion it is indeed. We are reminded that all the many teachings we have received from our Lord Jesus might only end up to nothing if we reduce our Christian life to mere lip-service or activism.
Two points are crucial here, as hinted at by two verbs used by Jesus, in the passage:
• Know, in the Semitic sense of the term, connotes a deep personal relationship. Jesus’ “I never knew you” is therefore rendered more meaningfully as “You have never really been my friends.”
• Do, or put into practice, is not about exterior practices or interior feelings. It is rather an action coming from the whole person, involving one’s entire self (cf. James 1:22-25).
This is the kind of “living out” of Jesus’ teaching that ensures a solid foundation, guaranteed against torrents and winds.
Such an august teaching of Jesus Christ definitely cannot remain only in paper as “nice,” to be domesticated into some sort of an “à la carte” body of ethical codes that one can just whimsically take or skip. The famous indictment by the great Mahatma Gandhi comes to mind, if only to serve as a warning and a reminder to all of us. He remarked that it was the Sermon on the Mount that “endeared Jesus to me.” But at the same time, he gave a sharp, biting critique of us Christians: “The message, to my mind, has suffered distortion... Much of what passes as Christianity is a negation of the Sermon on the Mount.”
In other words, the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount depends on us now. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
How am I living out the teachings from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?

Lord Jesus, turn me into a true Christian who does Your will and follows Your teachings, in season and out of season. Amen.

St. Libert, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 24, 2011
A MOMENTOUS AND CONSEQUENTIAL BIRTH

First and foremost, why the big fuss at all over John the Baptist’s name? To the cynical Shakespeare’s “What’s in a name?” the ancient Romans had an answer: “Nomen est omen” — a name is an omen, a portent of things to come, a symbol of the person’s identity and mission. With a name that means “Yahweh is gracious,” the most popular masculine name in the world (John, Jean, Juan, Joan, Giovanni, Ian, Jan, Hans, Ivan, Johann, Johannes, etc.) is surely worth the fuss!
More so for the one whose birth we commemorate and who we are honoring today. As the herald, precursor and “pointer” of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist held his unique vocation and mission in life, carrying out a concrete assignment both unrepeatable and irreplaceable. Just as a name, even if with several namesakes, is unique to an individual person, so, too, is his identity and mission. Ask yourself then: What does your birth bring? What does your name mean or symbolize? And finally, what does your mission and vocation entail?
Remember that there are only three instances in the liturgical calendar when births are commemorated: Jesus’ (December 25), Mary’s (September 8), and this one of John the Baptist today. All the rest of the saints’ feasts and memorials are usually taken from the days of their death. Moreover, it’s as if the words of Jesus no less were the canonization statement of John himself (Matthew 11:11): “History had not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer.”
Our own birthdays may not have profound consequences in world history (much less in the history of salvation) and we may not have veritable earth-shaking missions to carry out in life. But each of us is no less important in God’s eyes. For all its enigmatic tone, there is truth in what Jesus said: “Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than he.” May St. John the Baptist himself be our guide and example in life. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Your name points to your mission in life. What does your name mean?

Thank You, Father, for my name and for what it means in Your Kingdom.

St. Germoc, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 23, 2011
1st READING

Hagar’s son with Abraham, Ishmael, is the human solution to the problem of the barrenness of Sarai’s womb. It is not God’s solution! God works a miracle in order that Isaac is born to Sarai. If God has made a promise to us then we need to trust that He will make good on it. If God cannot be trusted, then no one can be trusted! Let us seek to grow in our faith and trust in God’s promises to us.

Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16
1 Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children. She had, however, an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram: “The LORD has kept me from bearing children. Have intercourse, then, with my maid; perhaps I shall have sons through her.” Abram heeded Sarai’s request. 3 Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine. 4 He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. When she became aware of her pregnancy, she looked on her mistress with disdain. 5 So Sarai said to Abram: “You are responsible for this outrage against me. I myself gave my maid to your embrace; but ever since she became aware of her pregnancy, she has been looking on me with disdain. May the LORD decide between you and me!” 6 Abram told Sarai: “Your maid is in your power. Do to her whatever you please.” Sarai then abused her so much that Hagar ran away from her. 7 The LORD’S messenger found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the road to Shur, 8 and he asked, “Hagar maid of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She answered, “I am running away from my mistress, Sarai.” 9 But the LORD’S messenger told her: “Go back to your mistress and submit to her abusive treatment. 10 I will make your descendants so numerous,” added the LORD’S messenger, “that they will be too many to count. 11 Besides,” the LORD’S messenger said to her: “You are now pregnant and shall bear a son; you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard you, God has answered you. 12 This one shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; in opposition to all his kin shall he encamp.” 15 Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

P S A L M
Psalm 106:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
R: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD, or proclaim all his praises? (R) 3 Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. 4 Remember me, O LORD, as you favor your people. (R) Visit me with your saving help, 5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your inheritance. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus affirms in no uncertain terms that faith is nothing unless it leads to action! It is the man and woman of faith who both hear the Word of God and put it into action that will inherit eternal life. Faith in the will of God is the only sure foundation upon which to build our lives. Let us reflect upon this text carefully so that we give the Holy Spirit greater opportunity to convince us of its truth.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 7:21-29
21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ 24 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” 28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

my reflections
t h i n k: Faith is nothing unless it leads to action!

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 6-10

Daily Reflections

June 22, 2011
A FOOLPROOF TEST

There is a time-tested methodology for discerning good or bad spirits. We are not referring here, by the way, to paranormal or supernatural activity. We mean here the so-called “Ignatian discernment of spirits.”
This kind of framework of guidelines developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola warns us of attributing something too easily to good or to bad spirits. In fact, St. Ignatius is quick to say that while the bad spirit may disguise itself to be a good spirit, the bad spirit can never produce anything good. Only the good spirit will yield something good always.
Satan, the Evil One, is known not only as the Prince of Darkness, but also as the Father of Lies. Or if you like, he is also the Master of Disguise. He can cleverly hide behind attractive and pleasant disguises. In this sense, Satan is the original wolf in sheep’s clothing.
In a way, it is true. How can Satan attract people to himself if they see him scary, obnoxious or disgusting? For this, we have to be very vigilant. And our Lord’s advice is truly foolproof and effective: “You can tell a tree by its fruit.”
In the context of the Gospel episode, Jesus used this teaching of His for the purpose of unmasking false prophets. Now, what if we applied Jesus’ acid test to ourselves? It shouldn’t take much for us to show our true colors beneath the disguises. We may fool a lot of people (nay more, perhaps even God Himself), but once we start deceiving our very own selves — that is the worst. We can even apply the most elaborate schemes for discerning spirits (yes, the Ignatian or otherwise), and they will only yield the same results. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Do I ever take the time to test the spirits whenever I have some choices to make?

Holy Spirit, teach me Your ways so I may be able to discern where the spirit is coming from. Amen.

St. Alban, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 20, 2011
A GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE

Fr. Joseph G. Donders, in his book With Hearts on Fire, has a delightful story which brings home the point about today’s Gospel. It’s about a woman who used to be annoyed by the irritating cough of her pet, a parrot. The disturbing ailment persisted so she decided to take the bird to a veterinarian. He checked the parrot and found it was in perfect health.
Upon listening again to the woman who brought the parrot, the veterinarian discovered that instead of having some disease or ailment, the parrot was merely imitating the hoarse “barking” of its cigarette-smoking owner. Eventually, she herself kicked her bad habit and all became well for both the woman and her pet.
Isn’t it true that we can be often critical of others? Well, OK, perhaps that is pardonable. But isn’t it also true that the reason for our being critical of others has something to do with our own selves? That what we dislike in others is actually a reflection of our own sins?
Psychologists point out that in human relationships, there exists what is known as projection — the externalization of blame, guilt or responsibility unto others, as a defense against one’s own anxiety. For this, Jesus prescribes a homespun piece of advice (using the typical Jewish style of hyperbole): “Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to take the speck from your brother’s eye!”
Let’s thank the Lord today for this valuable and timely reminder — lest He shout at us and call us, too, “You hypocrite!”Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Think of the things which irritate you in others. Reflect: could it be because I, too, have them in myself?

Clear my eyes, Lord, so that I may see also in myself what I dislike in others. Amen.

St. Bagne, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 17, 2011
EARTHLY VS. HEAVENLY TREASURE

There seems to be a contrast in our Gospel today, nicely intended by our Lord: between “earthly” treasure on the one hand, and “heavenly” treasure on the other.
It is not that worldly riches are bad as such. It becomes evil when you hoard them for your own selfish enjoyment, and at the expense of others in their want. Instead, Jesus’ exhortation to store up heavenly riches can mean being mindful of the needs of others. In this sense, wealth shared with or given away to others becomes wisely preserved in conditions in which they will not lose their value (through corrosion or infestation by vermin, as our Lord puts it). Instead, a history of greed, tyranny, oppression, inequality and social injustice in society is somehow proof of how material wealth has been pursued selfishly up to now.
And then Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.”
We should face the mirror and ask ourselves the crucial, make-or-break question, “Where is my treasure?” That would determine where my heart is (of which, according to Jesus, our eyes are mere indicators). Is my treasure merely piled up here on earth? That is to say, just kept for my lonesome self? Or is it “invested” in heaven? That is to say, shared with others?
Hopefully, the contrast between earthly and heavenly treasure will disappear. That is because in the first place, we have an unequivocal and definite answer: we’re surely going for the heavenly treasure. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Where is my heart focused on — on earthly treasures or on heavenly investment?

Grant me the grace of detachment from my earthly treasures, Lord. Help me to use them to bless others.

St. Harvey, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 15, 2011
THE REAL SELF

The sin that our Lord Jesus targets in His Gospel teaching today is none other than hypocrisy. The British biblical scholar William Barclay points out, “In popular opinion there is no sin more universally detested, and in the New Testament there is no sin more strongly condemned.” A remarkable statement as that should make us more aware or extra careful of our own hypocritical attitudes and behavior and, of course, heed our Lord’s teachings.
Originally (or etymologically), the word had no negative meaning at all. In classical Greek, the basic meaning of hupokritÄ“s is “one who answers.” In ancient Greece, stage plays followed a sort of questionand- answer format for the script; hence, an actor can be described as a hupokritÄ“s, an answerer. Now it is in this context that hupokritÄ“s develops its bad sense, as Barclay explains. It came to mean a “dissembler, one who is playing a part, putting on an act” (New Testament Words).
Truly, a hypocrite (as we would say nowadays) is one who puts up a virtuous or holy external image, for example, but is in reality a morally reprehensible person deep inside. Just like in our Gospel today, the hypocrite is the one person who wants everyone to see him giving alms, praying and fasting. But as Barclay points out, “He is the man whose goodness is designed not to please God but to please men; the man who says not ‘To God be the glory’ but ‘To me be the credit.’”
In today’s world of reality TV, celebrity culture, video game avatars and social networking websites, we ought to heed a lesson or two regarding this. We can easily put up fronts or masks and hide comfortably behind them. But what about the raw inner self deep within us? The transition to living double lives is much too easy and tempting.
Jesus Christ invites to “go to our room, close the door” and do the hard task of confronting this raw inner self of ours. Unless we do, we will live our lives as though on a stage, in a movie world of sorts inhabited by makeup artists and actors. That is most certainly not the real self that Jesus asks of us to confront and to be. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Who is the real you when no one is looking?

Grant me courage, Lord, to be truly who I am, without fear of what people might say or think about me.

St. Adelaide, pray for us.