The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees

By Sister Cecelia

 IS 27: 12-13, 28:5-6, 16-17, EPH 2:13-22, LK 13:10-17

A minister was traveling and, having stopped at a diner, felt a little annoyed not being waited on after ten minutes. His only consolation was that the truck driver seated next to him was also not attended to. When the minister said with irritation to the truck driver, “Maybe this counter is off limits,” the truck driver responded, “Maybe they are short of help.” After several more minutes the minister commented, “Maybe they don’t want our business.” The truck driver answered, “Maybe they are taking care of those people at the tables.” More minutes went by, and the minister said to him, “Maybe they don’t like us,” to which the response was “I don’t mind waiting, since the air conditioning feels so good.” At that point, a harried waitress approached, apologized, and told them that the water had been cut off and the dishwasher was not working. Both men rose and left the diner.  As they left, the minister was even more annoyed with the truck driver when he realized that he, not the minister, had chosen to practice what the minister preached. The truck driver’s way was love for one’s neighbor, and the minister’s way was hypocrisy, along with a not very humble attitude, and anger with the truck driver for living out the gospel better than the minister.

I have often wondered if the Pharisees saw the hypocrisy in how they would treat their animals compared with how they would treat anyone ill or sick. I have often wondered, too, what my response would have been in like circumstances. Have you? What laws do we think are so sacrosanct that there might indeed be extenuating circumstances that would rightfully change our own attitude or behavior? Many laws we follow are man-made laws, and even those we assume are from God, have been interpreted by humans.

The Jewish law had to be abolished, for its commandments and ordinances would prevent the Gentiles and the Jews from realizing they are one body in Christ. Those who were far, the Gentiles, and those who were near, the Hebrews, have been made one humanity through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. We are one with Christ, because Christ, being God, became human.

At times, it does not seem we are much further along in seeing and thus acting like we realize we are one body. There are many indications that more people are aware—at least intellectually—of the connection between all of humanity and all of creation. And there are many examples of those who have loved their neighbor truly and without hypocrisy throughout the centuries.  That is good, but we can’t sit back and bask in the light of someone else’s glory. The question to ask is this: How am I living the gospel message in the here and now? When I reflect on my own attitudes and behaviors, do I only see a loving response to others, or do I apply hypocritical double standards to my circumstances? 

We have to allot time each day to be able to listen to the Spirit speaking to us, letting us know where we are falling short of the mark. If we come to see that we have fallen short of the mark, then faith and hope are indeed necessary. We need faith that is deep enough to sustain us when we are weak, when we are sick, when our self-confidence is gone, when our self-respect is gone. Only the humble are able to have faith when everything else is taken away. How much more should our own faith and hope be for those of us who do not have to suffer everything being taken away. Let us be encouraged to spend time listening to God’s Spirit speaking within us and reflecting on the mysteries of the love that God gives us.

Our life is God’s gift to us. Our gift we give to God is what we do with it, how we live in the now, loving and allowing others to love us.

Christ is in our midst!