Sunday March 2nd 2025 – VIII Sunday in Ordinary Time- Cycle C Readings: Sirach 27:4-7, Psalm 92 “ Lord, it is good to give thanks to you”, Luke 6:39-45

                              The Secret Lives of Hypocrites
 
     Jesus finishes his Sermon on the Plain today. He turns his attention to a common human flaw: being hypocritical.
Every major religion seems to have hypocritical or Pharisee types. These are those who like to parade around as morally perfect people, correcting and judging everyone else around them. We’ve all met them and some of us here in the pews are probably part of this group!
 
    Because Jesus is speaking his words to us today, it would be good to do an examination of conscience on this topic.
Might I be someone who has a penchant for finding flaws in others?, Might I be “looking for splinters”?, Might I need a dose of humble pie?
 
     There are four secrets about religious hypocrites that they don’t want you to know:
First, often people secretly detest something in themselves. They protest loudly when they see this same thing in others.
 
     This is a defense mechanism that psychologists call “projection”, where individuals attribute their own undesirable traits to others. By focusing on others’ flaws, they avoid acknowledging and confronting their own.
 
Second, often people feel a need for control because of their deep-seated insecurities. These people often feel the urge to correct others and control others’ behaviors because, without control, they fear their lives would spiral into chaos.
 
They may also believe that their way is the “right” way and feel compelled to enforce it.
Third, some people need validation for their self-esteem. Correcting others can provide a sense of superiority and validation. It can be a way for individuals with fragile egos to boost their self-esteem by demonstrating their knowledge or competence.
 
Fourth, some people want to hide their own moral failures. There have been instances where religious leaders and those who publicly promote and preach strict moral codes are found to be engaging in behaviors that contradict their teachings.
 
Sadly, the worst thing about being hypocritical is that you are “play-acting” before God. This is what the word means in Greek: an actor.
 
Etymologically it means “an interpreter from underneath” because of the theater mask that actors wore to project their voices in outdoor theaters.
 
God wants us to be ourselves before him. We can’t hide from him!
 
Source: ePriest.com / Best Practices and Homily Resources for Catholic Priests
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