"Beware of the leaven - that is, hypocrisy - of the Pharisees."
Dahil marami tayong ritwal -- tulad ng pagsisimba, pagdarasal ng rosaryo, pagdarasal ng nobena, pagdiriwang ng mga sakramento, pagtitirik ng kandila, paghawak at paghimas sa mga santo -- laging nandiyan ang tuksong pagbabalatkayo. Nandiyan ang tuksong ang mga sinasabi at ginagawa natin sa panlabas ay walang kauganayan makabuluhang pagbabago at pagpapanibago ng ating puso at kalooban.
Ito ang nakita ni Jesus na pagkukulang ng mga Pariseo at Eskriba noong panahon niya. Alam nila ang batas at masugid nila itong tinutupad, subalit sa kanilang puso at kalooban sarili ang naghahari, sariling kasikatan, sariling papuri at pagtataas. What they do and say are empty because they are not connected to the right disposition of the heart.
When we sign ourselves with the sign of the cross, is there genuine belief in the power of the cross of Jesus? When we respond "And also with you" to the greeting "The Lord be with you" do we intend to share the presence of Jesus to others the way we have experienced that presence? When we say "Amen" do we truly beleive in the power and blessings of the Lord? When we say "Thanks be to God" is there genuine gratitude and thanksgiving in our hearts? When we kneel down and pray is there real adoration and reverence? Without this connection with heart, our rituals are empty; they are mere hypocritical ceremonies, gratifying one's desire for appreciation, vested ineterests, and self-seeking upliftment. When this happens, we have in us the leaven of the Pharisees.
Beware!
