Today’s Gospel obviously is not against keeping precepts—such as paying the tithe (a concrete way to financially support one’s parish community)—but reminds us that, in doing so, we must not forget love and justice, which lie at the heart of every authentically Christian action. Jesus speaks of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees: their desire for recognition and public greetings, and their focus on outward appearances rather than inner substance. They pay the tithe yet behave badly; they lack mercy and act unjustly. They perform their deeds with an air of superiority that makes them unyielding toward others—a presumption of righteousness often stemming from their roles, their actions, and the precepts they observe. In reality, to Jesus, they are “whitewashed tombs”—dead people pretending to be alive!
Examination of Conscience
We all run the same risk as those Pharisees whenever our actions are not driven by authentic sentiments but are tainted by a desire for outward show. We all fall into this sin, and we ought to ask ourselves—during our examination of conscience—whether we confront the issue of hypocrisy, or if it has actually taken root in us, despite our claim to be Christians.
It seems to me that we rarely reflect on hypocrisy; yet, it is not uncommon to encounter people leading double lives, hiding behind a mask. Unfortunately, hypocrisy can be found in families, in the Church, and in every social setting. It exists among consecrated religious and priests living parallel lives, or among married people who engage in countless affairs or betray trust through vices, substance abuse, or gambling addiction. Yet, before reaching such extremes, hypocrisy dwells in our daily lives, beginning in a heart that turns away from true goodness.
Subtle Hypocrisy
There exists the subtle hypocrisy of those who embrace you in church or at work but then pretend not to know you outside; of those who agree with everyone while always hiding their true thoughts; of those who fall into the habit of lying easily; of those who badmouth you the moment you leave the room. The hypocrite is a liar, someone who deceives others for personal gain; unable to cast off this mask, they feign righteousness while making demands of others.
We become hypocrites whenever we see hypocrisy in society but fail to recognize it in our own hearts—so much so that Jesus is careful to point out: “Hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye!” (Mt 7:5). Before healing the world of hypocrisy, we must learn—with simplicity of heart—to combat every form of duplicity within ourselves.
