26 August 2025: Tuesday of the 21st week of Ordinary Time
1 Thess. 2:1-8; Matt. 23:23-26
Homily
Today's Gospel is a continuation of yesterday's ferial Mass. It is a long list of ‘curses’ from Jesus against the Pharisees. The authors of our liturgical lectionary probably thought that it would be a bit too heavy to read all these ‘curses’ at once, even though it would not have been that long. What Jesus reproached above all in the first part was the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. In the text we have just read, He continues on the same theme, and in an even more explicit way. He mentions two more concrete forms of hypocrisy.
The first form of hypocrisy He reproaches them for is that of practising with great precision and even scrupulousness the secondary precepts of the Law concerning the tithes to be paid on various forms of crops, while neglecting the most fundamental precepts of the Law, namely justice, mercy and good faith.
The second form of hypocrisy that Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees for is that of submitting to external rites of purification without caring about the purity of their hearts. ‘First clean the inside of the cup,’ He said to them, ‘then you will be able to clean the outside.’
These words of the Master should lead us all to a serious examination of conscience. Do we not all, at one time or another, observe with great scrupulousness some very secondary precepts, partly to give ourselves a clear conscience for neglecting some more fundamental requirement of charity or justice?
And since it is very easy to deceive ourselves in this area, the fraternal correction that the Rule of St. Benedict and the Gospel make obligatory is all the more necessary. Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, who were so dear to him, gives us a beautiful example of fraternal correction that can be very direct and even very strong, while being not only very charitable but also full of tenderness.
Let us ask the Lord for the grace to know how to practise – and receive – this form of charity that is fraternal correction.
Armand Veilleux