3rd Friday of Lent (March 28). BEWARE OF HYPOCRISY

Prepare to Listen.  O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you.
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 11:53-12:3
53When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile towards him and to cross-examine him about many things, 54lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
1Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.  2Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.  3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
After Jesus’ sharp rebuke of Pharisees and lawyers in ch. 11, crowds gathered in their thousands.  Why do you think they did so?  Would you have joined them?
 
Outside, the attack on Jesus continued.  A large crowd gathered, a large crowd gathered, trampling on each other to get a close-up with Jesus.  Yet Jesus seems to ignore them, speaking first to his disciples, no doubt aware the scribes and Pharisees were listening, waiting for him to say something they could use against him.  As tension and opposition grew, it became clear that “anyone who wants to follow Jesus is going to have to become focused, totally loyal, ready for anything.”[1]  His disciples needed to be warned: “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.”  The problem with hypocrisy is that, like yeast, it infiltrates and affects all of life.  Hypocrites live a lie and demand that we accept their lies and distortions.  Beware of them, warns Jesus.
 
Hypocrites, who prefer to do their deeds in secret, are put on notice.  Jesus warns that they need to be aware that a day is coming when all will be known, nothing will be hidden.  It’s easy to be taken in by hypocrites, believing their lies and distortions.  This is why Jesus warned us to be aware so that we don’t support them.  It’s up to us in the present moment to remain discerning and prayerful about whom we follow.
 
But hypocrisy can also be our sin.  Hence Jesus spoke to his disciples, you and me.  Our lies, distortions and false living will be revealed for what it is.  Therefore, we ought to live with our eyes on this future revealing and live with integrity and openness.
 
How can you remain aware of hypocrisy in your own life and avoid those who lead people astray with their hypocrisy?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord keep me ever discerning to avoid being taken in by hypocrisy, and ever aware of the sin of hypocrisy in my own life.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Beware the yeast of hypocrites.
[1] Wright, N. T.  Luke for Everyone.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001, p. 148.