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 

Blessings and Woes

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today encourage us to celebrate our blessings especially when we journey through difficult times and misunderstanding of our Way.

Journey of Joy

The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians proclaims our Spiritual Blessings in Christ.

* [1:3–14] While a Pauline letter usually continues after the greeting with a prayer of thanksgiving, as in Eph 1:15–23 below, Ephesians first inserts a blessing of God for the blessings Christians have experienced, as in 2 Cor 1:3–4 and 1 Pt 1:3–12. The blessing here, akin to a Jewish berakah, is rich in images almost certainly drawn from hymns and liturgy. Many ideas here are also found in Col 1:3–23. Certain phrases are frequently repeated, such as in Christ (Eph 1:3, 10, 12) or in him (Eph 1:4, 7, 9, 11, 13) or in the beloved (Eph 1:6) and (for) the praise of (his) glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14). Some terms like chose (Eph 1:4) and destined (Eph 1:5) reflect Old Testament theology (Dt 7:7; 9:4–6; 23:5) or Pauline themes (redemption, Eph 1:7, 14; grace, Eph 1:6, 7) or specific emphases in Colossians (forgiveness, Col 1:14). A triadic structure is discernible in Eph 1:3–14: God the Father (Eph 1:3–6, 8, 11), Christ (Eph 1:3, 5, 7–10, 12), and the Spirit (Eph 1:13–14). The spiritual blessings Christians have received through Christ (Eph 1:3) are gratefully enumerated: the call to holiness (Eph 1:4; cf. Col 1:22); the gift of divine adoption establishing a unique spiritual relationship with God the Father through Christ (Eph 1:5; cf. Gal 4:5); liberation from sin through Christ’s sacrificial death (Eph 1:7); revelation of God’s plan of salvation in Christ (Eph 1:9; cf. Eph 3:3–4; Rom 16:25); the gift of election and faith in Christ bestowed upon Jewish Christians (see note on Eph 1:12, we who first hoped in Christ); and finally, the same gift granted to Gentiles (Eph 1:13, you also). In the Christ-centered faith and existence of the Christian communities the apostle sees the predetermined plan of God to bring all creation under the final rule of Christ (Eph 1:4–5, 9–10) being made known (Eph 1:9) and carried through, to God’s glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14).

* [1:3] In the heavens: literally, “in the heavenlies” or “in the heavenly places,” a term in Ephesians for the divine realm.

* [1:9] Mystery: as in Rom 16:25; Col 1:26, 27 and elsewhere, a secret of God now revealed in the plan to save and sum up all things in Christ (Eph 1:10); cf. Eph 3:3–6. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.

* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9).

* [98:1] Marvelous deeds…victory: the conquest of all threats to the peaceful existence of Israel, depicted in the Psalms variously as a cosmic force such as sea, or nations bent on Israel’s destruction, or evildoers seemingly triumphant. His right hand and holy arm: God is pictured as a powerful warrior. (Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus concludes the Denunciation of the Pharisees and Scholars of the Law.

* [11:49] I will send to them prophets and apostles: Jesus connects the mission of the church (apostles) with the mission of the Old Testament prophets who often suffered the rebuke of their contemporaries.

* [11:51] From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah: the murder of Abel is the first murder recounted in the Old Testament (Gn 4:8). The Zechariah mentioned here may be the Zechariah whose murder is recounted in 2 Chr 24:20–22, the last murder presented in the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament. (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

Nancy Shirley reflects on seeing so much sadness and grieving lately: not only friends passing away but children of friends passing away, friends and relatives currently on hospice, widowed friends and relatives whose broken hearts are on their sleeves, young children being left with only one parent, her grandson struggling with the demon of addiction and losing She finds it a challenge to keep a positive attitude.

I need to be reminded that this time on earth is transitory – there is MORE than these struggles and even the joys and delights.  I was recently at the funeral of a beautiful young woman in her mid-forties, she had written something very poignant years ago when barely 30 and I want to include an excerpt from her wise words:

Relationships are eternal; separation of our bodies does not mean separation of our souls. We are healed by this knowledge because it reminds us of the oneness of our relationship . . . our relationships do not die, they only change form.  Faith means knowing that no one is ever really gone. (Shirley, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The key of knowledge that opens the kingdom of God,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"We consider that the key of knowledge means the law [of Moses] itself, and by faith in him, I mean justification in Christ. Although the law was in shadow and type, yet those types show to us the truth, and those shadows depict to us in many ways the mystery of Christ. A lamb was sacrificed according to the law of Moses. They ate its flesh. They anointed the lintels with its blood and overcame the destroyer. The blood of a mere sheep could not turn away death. Christ was typified under the form of a lamb. He endures to be the victim for the life of the world and saves by his blood those who are partakers of him. One might mention many other instances as well, by means of which we can discern the mystery of Christ sketched out in the shadows of the law. When speaking to the Jews, he once said, 'There is one that accuses you, even Moses, whom you trusted. For if you had believed Moses, you should have also believed me, because he wrote of me' (John 5:45-46). 'You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me' (John 5:39). Every word of divinely inspired Scripture looks to him and refers to him. As it has been shown, if Moses speaks, he typified Christ. If the holy prophets that you name speak, they also proclaimed to us in many ways the mystery of Christ, preaching beforehand the salvation that is by him." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 86) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 11:47-54 comments that in today’s Gospel, we see one way that Jesus reacted to all this hostility. Speaking very directly, he called out his detractors for their hypocrisy and refusal to believe. We might read this passage as Jesus finally losing his cool and railing against them in fury. But we should remember that Jesus, more than anyone else, lived out his own teachings about loving our enemies. Remember how he wept over those who had rejected him, heartbroken that they had failed to recognize the “time of [their] visitation” (Luke 19:44). Or think of how he asked his Father to forgive the very people who crucified him (23:34). Clearly, Jesus’ way is the way of love!

So how will you respond to the negative feelings that rise up when someone is hostile toward you? Will you let their words cloud your heart and move you to retaliate in kind? Or will you take these “enemies” to the Lord and ask him to give you his own love for them? It’s not always easy to forgive those who hurt you, but it is always possible. In Christ, you can live in peace!

“Lord, help me to see everyone as you do. Jesus, give me your heart of love!” (Meditation on Luke 11:47-54, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the different theology and vocabulary of the Letters to the Ephesians and the Collosians that suggest that Paul was not the author. Aquinas expresses God's desire to heal our sin and the Franciscan Duns Scotus understands that Jesus was always coming to participate in our nature out of love. Friar Jude reminds us that the responsibility of the Scribes and Pharisees to interpret the Law is portrayed as a religion of scrupulosity especially in Matthew’s Gospel.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Theologian Elizabeth Johnson who shows how our understanding of creation has evolved since Genesis. She invites us to think of God as Creator through a broad lens.

The ambling character of life’s evolutionary emergence over billions of years … is hard to reconcile with a simplistic idea of God the Creator at work…. Best to let go of the idea of God as a monarch acting upon other beings. Move your mind in the direction of the living God who is infinite holy mystery. Sit with the truth that our finite minds cannot comprehend the One who is infinite; our finite hearts cannot grasp love without limit. Look toward God not as an individual actor within the range of creatures but as the unimaginable personal Source of all beings, the very Ground of being, the Beyond in our midst, a generative ocean of love, Creator Spirit. Then begin to realize that the power of the Creator Spirit is not exercised as raw power-over but as love that empowers-with. God’s creative activity brings into being a universe endowed with the innate capacity to evolve by the operation of its own natural powers, making it a free partner in its own creation. (Rohr, n.d.)

We express gratitude for the blessings that come from our relationships with the people in our lives and with the Spirit of God that empowers us to love and respect people who are critical of our way.

References

Ephesians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1? 

Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?47 

Meditation on Luke 11:47-54. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/10/17/1106593/ 

Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Creator Spirit. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/creator-spirit/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Lose the Key of Knowledge. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=oct17 

Shirley, N. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/101724.html