Help and Hypocrisy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to explore how our actions present our love, care and compassion to the people we encounter on our journey.

Psalm 128 Blessing

In the Reading from the Book of Ruth, Boaz Marries Ruth.

* [4:16] Cradled him: the child belongs to Naomi in the sense that he now becomes the redeemer in the family, as stated in 4:14. This tender act by Naomi is not necessarily adoptive and differs from the relationship in Gn 30:3; cf. Nm 11:12. Naomi now has a “boy” to replace her two lost “boys” in 1:5. (Ruth, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 128 declares God blesses with a fertile spouse and abundant children.

* [Psalm 128] A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Ps 128:1). God’s blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Ps 128:2–4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Ps 128:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 128 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents a Denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees.

* [23:1–39] The final section of the narrative part of the fifth book of the gospel is a denunciation by Jesus of the scribes and the Pharisees (see note on Mt 3:7). It depends in part on Mark and Q (cf. Mk 12:38–39; Lk 11:37–52; 13:34–35), but in the main it is peculiar to Matthew. (For the reasons against considering this extensive body of sayings-material either as one of the structural discourses of this gospel or as part of the one that follows in Mt 24–25, see note on Mt 19:1–23:39.) While the tradition of a deep opposition between Jesus and the Pharisees is well founded, this speech reflects an opposition that goes beyond that of Jesus’ ministry and must be seen as expressing the bitter conflict between Pharisaic Judaism and the church of Matthew at the time when the gospel was composed. The complaint often made that the speech ignores the positive qualities of Pharisaism and of its better representatives is true, but the complaint overlooks the circumstances that gave rise to the invective. Nor is the speech purely anti-Pharisaic. The evangelist discerns in his church many of the same faults that he finds in its opponents and warns his fellow Christians to look to their own conduct and attitudes. (Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB, n.d.)

Edward Morse comments that Our Lord warns his disciples against those who “preach but do not practice.”  It was not that the rules were unimportant. Indeed, Jesus tells us to follow their teaching, but not to follow their bad example.

We reserve special contempt for hypocrisy, in which one merely poses as virtuous or pious without a genuine belief.  But often we simply fail in the execution of what we know to be true or right, whether out of ignorance, weakness, fear, or other infirmity.  In that sense, we are not hypocrites but merely common sinners. 

Love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8).  We can all do with more practice in loving, forgiving, and living upright and holy lives in the manner to which we are called. Ruth and Boaz gave us wonderful positive examples to follow.  Faithfulness, kindness, mercy, and generosity often return to us in blessings beyond our wildest dreams.  Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “God is our father and teacher,” by Jerome (347-420 AD).

"No one should be called teacher or father except God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the Father, because all things are from him. He alone is the teacher, because through him are made all things and through him all things are reconciled to God. But one might ask, 'Is it against this precept when the apostle calls himself the teacher of the Gentiles? Or when, as in colloquial speech widely found in the monasteries of Egypt and Palestine, they call each other Father?' Remember this distinction. It is one thing to be a father or a teacher by nature, another to be so by generosity. For when we call a man father and reserve the honor of his age, we may thereby be failing to honor the Author of our own lives. One is rightly called a teacher only from his association with the true Teacher. I repeat: The fact that we have one God and one Son of God through nature does not prevent others from being understood as sons of God by adoption. Similarly this does not make the terms father and teacher useless or prevent others from being called father."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 23:1-12 comments on the contrast between Ruth and the scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel! Jesus rebukes them for being more concerned with their prestige than with easing other people’s burdens (Matthew 23:3-7). And he ends with words that continue to speak to us today: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (23:12).

Ruth shows us that pleasing the Lord doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t take a soaring intellect or a superhero’s strength. It just takes trying our best to honor him in prayer, caring for the people around us, and choosing the path of humble service. And when we fall short, it just takes a simple confession of our sins and trust in God’s mercy. It just takes humbling ourselves—and God will exalt us.

“Father, help me to imitate Ruth’s humble trust in you.” (Meditation on Matthew 23:1-12, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts of today. Naomi kinsman Boaz has a field where Ruth gleaned and they need a man in the family and the goel has given up his right. The ancestry of David includes a Moabite woman. Jesus says the Pharisees are hypocrites looking for recognition and status with elaborate signs of their different religious devotion. Friar Jude comments on the title “Father” and the use of Jewish exaggeration by Jesus to encourage religious leaders to be humble.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Psychologist Hillary McBride who describes the impact of suppressing emotions. Growing up, we might have learned that some feelings were dangerous or untrustworthy, would cause us to be alone, or would create distress in others. We learned ways of expressing feelings that suited those around us, or we learned to defend against the feelings to protect ourselves and others from the pain of them.

But our unfelt feelings, like any other essential bodily processes, do not go away even if we try to repress them. They eventually catch up with us and get our attention somehow, sometimes in the form of disease, mental health issues, illness, burnout, addiction, or pain. To get back to our core self, the wise, creative, steady, compassionate, and connected present-day self, we need to learn to be with our feelings as they happen and to trust that our bodies know what to do with them, as long as our mental and cultural stories do not get in the way.  

McBride offers several journaling prompts to explore our relationship with our emotions: 

Growing up, the feelings I was allowed to feel were …  

I learned that it would be dangerous to feel …  

The feelings that I have learned to label as negative are …  

I am afraid that if I feel ______ (fear, sadness, joy, disgust, excitement, anger, desire), then I might …  

When I was little, I needed to learn that feelings … (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the nature of hypocrisy and seek the guidance of the Spirit to help us align our presentation and purpose as a sign of our humility as followers of Jesus.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23?1 

Meditation on Matthew 23:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/?utm_content=buffer5c902&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

Morse, E. (2025, August 23). Daily Reflection August 23, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-23-2025 

Psalms, PSALM 128 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/128?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Emotional Equilibrium: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/emotional-equilibrium-weekly-summary/ 

Ruth, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ruth/4 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Whoever Humbles Oneself Will Be Exalted. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug23 

Heritage and Humility

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the gift of humility offered by the Spirit to reveal the love and support we have within our family and community.

Family Love and Support

In the reading from the Book of Ruth, Ruth meets Boaz and the Genealogy of David is explained.

* [2:1] Kinship ties and responsibilities now become very important. Boaz is introduced as one of a group surrounding Naomi through her husband’s kin who are expected to extend care. The particular term used here (moda‘, “relative”) is picked up in 3:2; otherwise, most of the terminology about this responsibility to care will use the vocabulary of redeeming (go’el, “redeemer”).

* [2:2] Israelite custom made provision for the poor, the widow, the stranger and the orphan to gather what was left behind by the harvesters, and instructed farmers not to cut to the edges of their fields, for the sake of these marginalized; Lv 19:9–10; 23:22; Dt 24:19–22. (Ruth, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)

* [4:16] Cradled him: the child belongs to Naomi in the sense that he now becomes the redeemer in the family, as stated in 4:14. This tender act by Naomi is not necessarily adoptive and differs from the relationship in Gn 30:3; cf. Nm 11:12. Naomi now has a “boy” to replace her two lost “boys” in 1:5. (Ruth, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)

Psalm 128 praises the happy home of the Faithful.

* [Psalm 128] A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Ps 128:1). God’s blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Ps 128:2–4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Ps 128:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 128, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees.

* [23:5] To the charge of preaching but not practicing (Mt 23:3), Jesus adds that of acting in order to earn praise. The disciples have already been warned against this same fault (see note on Mt 6:1–18). Phylacteries: the Mosaic law required that during prayer small boxes containing parchments on which verses of scripture were written be worn on the left forearm and the forehead (see Ex 13:9, 16; Dt 6:8; 11:18). Tassels: see note on Mt 9:20. The widening of phylacteries and the lengthening of tassels were for the purpose of making these evidences of piety more noticeable.

* [23:6–7] Cf. Mk 12:38–39. ‘Rabbi’: literally, “my great one,” a title of respect for teachers and leaders.

* [23:8–12] These verses, warning against the use of various titles, are addressed to the disciples alone. While only the title ‘Rabbi’ has been said to be used in addressing the scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23:7), the implication is that Father and ‘Master’ also were. The prohibition of these titles to the disciples suggests that their use was present in Matthew’s church. The Matthean Jesus forbids not only the titles but the spirit of superiority and pride that is shown by their acceptance. Whoever exalts…will be exalted: cf. Lk 14:11. (Matthew, CHAPTER 23, n.d.)

Joan Blandin Howard comments that to a greater or lesser degree, we all appreciate rules.  Children need the security of some restrictions, discipline, but also the security of love.  Both make them feel safe, protected and cared for. We adults also seek and appreciate some legalism in our lives – mostly the laws we make for ourselves and would prefer that others also appreciate and attend.

How am I called, invited to be with, to approach, to feed and welcome the refugee, the foreigner, men and women of color, the divorced, LGBTQ community? What, if any, universal laws and regulations are there?  What are the rules and regulations of our country, of my community, my faith community? What is the law of the gospels? The law of love. 

As Mark Twain said: “It aint the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother (challenge) me, it’s the parts that I do understand.”

What in scripture bothers me?  How do I confront the challenge?

Me?  Almost daily, I am challenged by some aspect of the law of Love. However, I know from personal experience that Jesus will always walk with and help me carry my burdens. “…come to me all you are weary and carrying heavy burdens…” (Howard, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “God is our father and teacher,” by Jerome (347-420 AD).

"No one should be called teacher or father except God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the Father, because all things are from him. He alone is the teacher, because through him are made all things and through him all things are reconciled to God. But one might ask, 'Is it against this precept when the apostle calls himself the teacher of the Gentiles? Or when, as in colloquial speech widely found in the monasteries of Egypt and Palestine, they call each other Father?' Remember this distinction. It is one thing to be a father or a teacher by nature, another to be so by generosity. For when we call a man father and reserve the honor of his age, we may thereby be failing to honor the Author of our own lives. One is rightly called a teacher only from his association with the true Teacher. I repeat: The fact that we have one God and one Son of God through nature does not prevent others from being understood as sons of God by adoption. Similarly this does not make the terms father and teacher useless or prevent others from being called father."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 comments that most of us reading this meditation are descended from Gentiles. That means we have the same grace flowing in us that flowed in Abraham, in Ruth, in David, and in all the heroes and heroines of the faith. Whether Gentile or Jew, we are all members of the same family, and we all share the same “spiritual DNA.”

Ruth’s story also tells us that God’s grace can flow into anyone who is connected to Christ, the “vine” (John 15:1)—including our loved ones, our neighbors, and our coworkers. So we should never give up hope. We should never stop looking for ways to share the gospel with them. Who knows how much fruit they might be able to bear for the Lord!

“Thank you, Lord, for grafting us into your family tree!” (Meditation on Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler explains the connection of the return of Naomi to Bethlehem with Ruth to the descendants of King David. In the well symbolism of the Hebrew Testament, men meet their wives at the well. Here Boaz offers water to Ruth. Friar Jude notes the use of Jewish exaggeration in Jesus' attention to the wider phylacteries and longer tassels of the Pharisees that are contrary to humility.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the thoughts of Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931–2021) and his daughter Mpho Tutu who invite us to recognize the ways that we have hurt others, and to seek forgiveness in an effort to restore justice and relationships.

We all need forgiveness. There are times when all of us have been thoughtless or selfish or cruel. As we have said earlier, no act is unforgiveable; no person is beyond redemption. Yet, it is not easy to admit one’s wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness. “I am sorry” are perhaps the three hardest words to say. We can come up with all manner of justifications to excuse what we have done. When we are willing to let down our defenses and look honestly at our actions, we find there is a great freedom in asking for forgiveness and great strength in admitting the wrong. It is how we free ourselves from our past errors. It is how we are able to move forward into our future, unfettered by the mistakes we have made. (Rohr, 2023) 

We are grateful that our lives are shared with family and other significant people who shape our journey and provide opportunity to experience love, compassion, and mercy.

References

Howard, J. B. (2023, August 26). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/082623.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 23. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23?1 

Meditation on Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/08/26/767291/ 

Psalms, PSALM 128. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/128?1 

Rohr, R. (2023, August 26). God's Restoring Justice : Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/restorative-justice-weekly-summary-2023-08-26/ 

Ruth, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ruth/2?1 

Ruth, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ruth/4 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Whoever Humbles Oneself Will Be Exalted. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 26, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=aug26