RBWords

     Jesus' words today are a reaction to the hypocrisy of certain religious authorities in his time who were very good at using external observance of the Jewish law to cloak evil intentions and actions.  But there is a bigger picture which includes these words and more!  The best way to see that bigger picture is to read the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel According to Matthew (Chs. 5-7).  Jesus' teaching goes beyond physical observance to the motives for that physical observance.  In other words, our behavior should match our intentions.  This is the basic meaning of "integrity." 

      This was nothing new when Jesus preached it!  The prophets of the Old Testament continually denounced religious piety that ignored the needs of the widow and orphan and the poor.  When religious faith is used as a means for unjust actions, it is a terrible thing.  But it is the interior motives of greed and insecurity and others (cf. today's gospel) that lead to this.  None of us is perfect.  If we were, we'd be God!  All of us have interior moments that are less than worthy.  Jesus speaks of the relationship between the tree and the fruit (Matt. 7:18), which illustrates the relationship between motive and action.  We have to take care of our "tree" by continual "pruning" and feeding if we want it to bear good fruit.  This is what is meant by continual conversion.  Pope Francis has spoken of the church as a field hospital for the sick and wounded.  This means we all have the possibility of being in need of help to purify our intentions and renew our faith.  Sometimes we will have "emergencies" when we ignore "the better angels of our nature."  But preventative medicine is better.  Knowing WHY we are Christians and what that means, especially for Catholics with our long and many religious observances, can mean all the difference in the world.  AMEN