This is the first line of Jesus' parable directed to the self-righteous, those who despise others. It is a story of two people going to the temple to pray. Whatever differences may emerge later in the parable, it is at least interesting to note this similarity between the two characters.
How often do people say, "I do not go to Church because it is full of hypocrites"? I am sure many of us feel the same frustration when we go to our places of worship and find loud and judgmental people who we know have their weaknesses and struggles. Sometimes it can feel like everyone is pretending to be good so that they can appear to fit in, even though they may not believe
the message of the Church or may live contrarily to its values. Jesus is quite harsh with hypocrites. But what if there is another way to think of these hypocrites?
Maybe it's okay that people come and pretend because maybe deep down in their hearts, they know they want an encounter with God. Maybe going and acting is the first little step toward sincerity. Even the
misguided arrogant ones who think they are perfect are at least trying to walk towards God. I am reminded of Pope Francis's words that invite the Church to be a field hospital for the wounded, not a reward for the perfect. We are all sinners. Christ desires to redeem all of us. The Church may be a field hospital for those wounded by hypocrisy and arrogance.
St
Ignatius says that even if we do not desire to change our lives, we can at least pray for the grace to want to make this change.
Today let us reflect on our arrogance and hypocrisy, our times of pretending and insincerity. What motivated these attitudes? How did God's grace help us to journey more authentically with him? Do we still need to pray for the
grace of desire to change?
