Day 14 (Week 1: Seeking true knowledge of self)

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the Gospel Readings for yesterday and today, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. Hearing His words, we can apply them to ourselves in seeking true self knowledge:

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others.Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” (Mt 23:2)

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!" (Mt 23:27-32)

These are strong words from Jesus, and we know He Who is Truth speaks only what is true. So in this first week of preparation for consecrating ourselves totally (or reconsecrating ourselves) let us listen to Jesus and see if we are also in any way “hypocrites”. The word is synonymous with “liar” or “pretender” coming from a Greek word meaning “actor”.

I remember very clearly the day it dawned on me for the first time, when I realized I could be a “pharisee”, a “hypocrite” when I sought the praise of men and not the praise of God. It was a moment of grace for me to realize how I was more concerned about what other people thought of me than of what God could see was truly in my heart.

How important for us to ask the Holy Spirit today to reveal the Truth about ourselves to us, in order that we may have true sorrow for our sins. Let us pray with confidence in God’s Love for us and His power to sanctify us in Truth:
Litany of the Holy Spirit - HERE Let us also trust in Mary’s love and intercession in praying to her for true self knowledge, a share in her humility. Ave Maris Stella HERE and Litany of Our Lady HERE