Praise to be Jesus and Mary. I remember a story about a priest who got a 2 a.m. wake-up call one
cold morning. An excited voice told him, I think Grandpa's dying. And since it was just a couple blocks away, Father decided to walk. And as he passed by this alley, a figure with a gun stepped out and demanded for him to give him his money. So
the priest told the man that his wallet was in the pocket of his coat. So he opened up his coat to get it, which revealed his Roman collar. And the gunman stuttered, oh, I didn't know you were a priest. Pardon me, Father, you know, keep your money.
So
grateful relief, the priest offered the guy a cigar. But the man told him, oh, no thanks, Father, I'm not smoking during Lent. You know, this thug was acting like a Pharisee. The Pharisees were extremely particular
about minor regulations of Jewish law, while they neglected the important commands. That's why our Lord often condemned them. You know, they hated Jesus because he threatened their position as religious leaders. They watched our Lord closely, tried to trap him.
His speech criticized his association with publicans and sinners.
And also his neglect of the required washings is in today's gospel.
They claim that Jesus could not forgive sins, that he drove out devils by the power of the devil.
And, you know, they themselves, the Pharisees, set a good example only when they had an audience to impress.
And we have Pharisees today, you know, they do the same thing.
When out in public, they're polite and courteous to strangers.
You know, they never fail to say, please, thank you, pardon me.
But, you know, among their loved ones, you seldom, if ever, hear those important words.
At home, you know, the charity just seems to disappear.
And if I told someone that, you know, by coming late to Mass that they are impolite, you know, he or she would be insulted.
Yet.
Yet, you know, coming late through one's own fault is an insult to God.
It's a distraction to those in church and also to the celebrant of the Mass.
You know, some parishes are so noisy with people talking, you know, before.
And after Mass, you don't know whether you're in a church or a school cafeteria.
Yet, you know, these same people do not say a word of greeting to our Lord here on the altar.
That's like going to a party, you know, and talking to everyone except the host.
So many Catholics are mixed up regarding what's up.
is really important.
Now don't get me wrong, you know, building love and
community spirit, you know, among parishioners is good.
But that can be done, you know, on the church steps
or in the parish hall.
Then there are Catholics and others who
would not, you know, think of
giving or attending a party
if there was a spot on the table or dishes
or on their clothes.
Yet they come to church dressed
or they go to parties
dressed better than they do, coming to the banquet
of the Lord, the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
And they might be concerned about
spots or stains, but, you know, their language
is not only spotted, it's downright filthy.
You know, an example of filth being on the
inside, rather, than the outside, as Jesus
points out in today's Gospel.
Some people are big spenders.
You know, outside the home, you know,
treating the boys to drinks at the tavern,
you know, gambling hundreds of dollars away
at the casino.
Giving generous tips to waitresses, but, you know,
they're penny pinchers when, with their loved ones
and with God.
I'm sure you can think of other situations, you know,
where we're clean and courteous and generous,
you know, only when it makes a show or avoids criticism.
So let us ask Our Lady to help us not be Pharisees.
Amen.