THE BURDEN OF HYPOCRISY

Reflection for 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

(Mal 1:14-2:2.8-10, 1Thes 23:1-12, Mt 23:1-12)

Hypocrisy, among other things, is a burden. This is an important lesson from today’s readings. The person, who is first laden with this burden, equally transfers it to others, especially his audience. This burden is so dicey that the one who bears it might not recognize it easily. In other words, it is difficult for one to identify himself as a hypocrite.  There is one way out of this problem.

The immediate victims of hypocrisy from the readings are those who occupy the chair of Moses. Since a priest is called from among his brothers (cf. Heb 5:1), and God calls the weak to shame the strong (cf. 1Cor 1:27), it is easy for the minister of God to battle between being mere human and living out his authentic divine vocation. Hypocrisy is a way of life, where one habitually lives contrary to what he teaches or stands for. Through the prophet Malachi, God announces his displeasure on priests who cause others to stumble and water down the covenant.

From St Paul’s authentic witness among the Thessalonians, it is obvious that the preacher of the Gospel must be personally committed and affectionate like a nursing mother to her baby. This cannot be so if he is not personally touched by what he preaches. By bearing the message upon himself, the priest brings healing to the people. Therefore, it is only those who bear the yoke of Christ can be true minsters of the Gospel, through whom the faithful are relieved. “Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Mt 11:30). “Always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body” (2Cor 4:10). The Cross is the point of departure.

The Pharisees rejected Jesus, the Truth. Since they were not living out what they preached, they had to burden themselves with many externalities. And in order to impress the people, they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders. This is the same with some preachers of today. Once the imprint of the Cross, the yoke of Christ, is not in their lives, they divert their energies to lots of other things in order to acquire sense of relevance. Whenever a priest’s sense of relevance is rooted in something other than salvation of souls, he has laden himself with the yeast of the Pharisees (cf. Mt 16:6-12). The priest has to live out what he preaches. This is how he allows himself to be sustained by Christ Jesus, so that through him, Jesus will liberate the people. 

The burden of hypocrisy is on everyone who is not true to his/her vocation. For example, imagine the load upon an unfaithful husband who warns his children against fornication? The same goes for the corrupt politician who promises what he cannot do. Hypocrisy rears its head when people live dishonest lives, or raise themselves above their standard of living. Titles and positions are for service; to untie the burden on people. Most importantly, the burden of hypocrisy is equally laden on the faithful church member who does not accept the Gospel for what it really is, God’s word, and not some human thinking (1Thes 2:13). Such a believer hinges his/her faith on personalities. Those who worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (cf. Jn 4:24). “Accursed be anyone who trusts in human beings, who relies on human strength” (Jer 17:5). However it comes, hypocrisy seeks vainglory and undue sense of relevance. 

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt 23:12). The triumph of the Cross is our victory over hypocrisy. Jesus has borne our burden upon Himself on the Cross. Our participation in His victory, by accepting our crosses each day, is our only escape from the burden of hypocrisy. “So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free” (Jn 8:36). Any priest or preacher who does not project Christ, but infuses himself within the message, adds heavy burden upon the people. Unless we bear the yoke of Christ, the imprint of the Cross in our bodies, we remained burdened, and cannot lighten other’s burdens. Jesus is our only Master. “You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am” (Jn 13:13). Yes, as we follow Him humbly, bearing authentic witness, He exalts us, and liberates us from the burden of hypocrisy.

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Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

St Francis Catholic Church,

College Road, Off Ekenwan Road,

Benin City, Nigeria.

5 November, 2017.