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31st Sunday in Ordinary time. Mt 23/1-12 |
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| Background:Jesus didn't like hypocrites very much because most of his enemies were hypocrites, and indeed he realized that at all times and in all places hypocrites are the worse enemies of religion. They are the people who do evil in the name of religion and thus hurt other human beings and also corrupt religion with their pretense of virtue. They are for example the people who cling to religious power in the name of protecting religion when in all they really want to do is to protect their own power to dominate others. There were hypocrites in Jesus's time, but hypocrisy did not end then. On the contrary the terrorists and the inquisitors and those who denounce other people to enhance their own careers are very much with us even to the present day. As the church year comes to an end, Jesus and the Church warn us to examine our conscience and ask exactly how much hypocrisy there is in our own religious posture. | read the padre ad the padre |
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Story:Once upon a time there were a group of
couples who were very active in the parish. They worked on every project that came up
because as they said the priest needed their help. They were the take charge type who
rushed in to take over anything that needed to be done - athletic programs, liturgy
committee, finance committee, teenage program, RCIA, parish outreach, welcome committees.
They were everywhere and did everything. In fact they were the parish. They figure they
were entitled to feel that it was their parish because they had done so much for it. Then
some other couples who were new in the parish tried to become involved. The old timers
went to the pastor and said. These newcomers really aren't very nice and we're not even
sure that they're good Catholics. So why don't you tell them not to bother us. If I have
to choose between you and them, he said, they'll win because you have shut the door to
everyone else.
So there too.
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