St. John Henry Newman offers a very strongly worded commentary on this passage. He says, “How seasonable is our Lord’s warning to us…to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy: professing without practicing. He warns us against it as leaven, as a subtle insinuating evil which will silently spread itself throughout the whole character…Let us ever remember that all who follow God with but a half heart, strengthen the hands of his enemies…perplex inquirers after truth, and bring reproach upon their Savior’s name…Woe unto the deceiver and self-deceiver! God give us grace to flee from this woe while we have time! Let us examine ourselves, to se if there be any wicked way in us…And let us pray God to enlighten us, and to guide us, and to give us the will to please him, and the power.”
Pretty strong words for that great saint, but certainly because Our Lord’ own condemnation of hypocrisy is pretty strong. Hypocrisy was the great sin of the Pharisees, who claimed representatives of God. They had the duty to point others to God, but could not identify God when he arrived in their midst in the flesh. Their hypocrisy was that they professed righteousness, but did not practice it. They condemned small infractions, while devoid, themselves, of authentic love of God and neighbor.
Rather, the Lord teaches that his followers must be devoid of pharisaic hypocrisy. We are to be full of genuine love for God and neighbor which transforms the whole of one’s life. And we are to treat others with the same mercy and patience with which we hope to be treated by God.
When a Christian does not practice what he preaches, St. John Henry Newman says we “perplex inquirers after the truth.” In other words, when we fail to live as Christ in the world, we make it difficult for non-believers, those searching for Christ, to come to believe in Him. So we need to take seriously the need to examine our lives, to sweep our houses clean of leaven, that we may give good witness and lead others to Christ.
This Gospel passage is so fitting for the feasts of the martyrs, like St. Placid and his companions, because the martyrs truly have “preached Christ from the roof tops”—they have preached him by following Him all the way to the cross—giving the supreme witness of their very lives.
Whenever we are tempted to forsake the teachings and commands of the Lord, to give in to temptation, calling to mind the witness of the martyrs, their willingness to suffer, is a powerful remedy to our fear.
Celebrating and calling to mind the witness of the martyrs, aids us in that “seasonable” daily effort of avoiding hypocrisy, to practice what we preach, to not fear those who harm or kill the body because of our faith. May we follow their example and know their heavenly intercession for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
Gospel: At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed: nor hidden, that shall not be known. For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in chambers shall be preached on the house-tops. And I say to you, My friends, be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you Whom you shall fear: fear ye Him Who, after He hath killed, hath power to cast into Hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God? Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. And I say to you, whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.
Yes! EF Mass! :)
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