Carissimi,
from the Gospel appointed for the mass for Wednesday the third week of Lent, we hear:
“Hypocrites, well hath Isaias prophesied of you, saying: This people honoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men.”
So much do we see this in the world around us today. Yet let us not think that it is a modern phenomenon, lest we turn to idolizing the past. What our Lord spoke was almost 2000 years ago, and very little has changed since then. Indeed, Christ has been with us for almost two millennia, yet the people, surrounded by His wisdom and saving grace, still have not opened their hearts.
We must guard against being hypocrites, honouring God with our lips, but turning away with our hearts and minds. We must guard against vain worship. And, we must guard against what is so prevalent today, the twisting and bending of the Catholic faith not to the doctrines and commandments of God, but the doctrines and commandments of men. This by itself is not enough. We must speak against such hypocrisy, counseling and admonishing as we are called to do according to the Spiritual Acts of Mercy. However, given the ongoing nature and magnitude of the problem, we must also not allow ourselves to become discouraged if we think we are making but a little progress or even no progress at all. The coming celebration of the Resurrection reminds us of our eventual corporate victory in the fullness of God’s time through the victory of Christ over the grave.
May Almighty God continue to bless each of you as you walk along your Lenten journey.
