Daily Reflection Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Today Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites.” This may be the worst criticism Jesus ever said of anyone. What is a hypocrite? The word originated in the theatres of Ancient Greece. The Greek word, hypocrites, refers to the mask worn by an actor on stage. The mask indicated the character which the actor portrayed in a play. Sometimes an actor would play more than one role and the audience could distinguish the characters by the masks the actor wore. Centuries later hypocrites came to refer to a person who pretends to be someone he or she is not. In a sense, this person was wearing a mask, that is, taking on a different persona. In some cases, it would refer to those who do not practice what they preach.

These are the people whom Jesus finds especially offensive because they deceive and mislead. They portray themselves as paragons of purity and gatekeepers to the Kingdom of Heaven. They enforce the law which the faithful must follow if they hope to draw closer to God.

The law serves as a good guide leading spiritual pilgrims along the way to salvation. However, some treat the law as if it were an adversary, that is, an inspector who evaluates the worthiness of the pilgrims, ensuring that the law has been completely fulfilled. This adversary is more concerned with preserving the law than with filling the Kingdom.



Jesus pledged that he would not abolish the law, but fulfill it. In doing so he would strengthen the relationship between God and all people and lead them into the Kingdom of Heaven.