Reflection for Wednesday August 27 Memorial of Saint Monica: Matthew 23:27-32

Gospel: Matthew 23:27-32

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!"

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Reflection:

The story is told about a politician who seemed to have an extraordinary gift of resonating with the pulse of the people. He spoke their language, touched their emotions, and promised them help if they would elect him to office. To make a long story short, he was voted into office because of his glib tongue and the image he projected. But sadly, once in power, he failed to fulfill the promises he had made. 

In the Gospel, Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, who were overly concerned with appearances but neglected what truly matters—interior purity and transformation of the heart. 

Jesus would not have been displeased if the scribes and Pharisees had struggled with their own man-made external standards, as long as they had sincerely pursued cleansing within. What He desired was their conversion, their willingness to eradicate sin and allow God’s grace to renew them. Yet, instead of accepting His loving correction, they hardened their hearts, took offense at Him, and eventually conspired to put Him to death. 

When we reflect honestly, we realize that we, too, are not strangers to such behavior. We sometimes wear a mask of righteousness—looking respectable outwardly while neglecting the deeper call to cleansing, renewal, and transformation of the heart. 

But here lies our hope: God still gives us time. Time to cast aside all fakery, self-promotion, and manipulation. Time to open ourselves to His mercy, to be washed clean, and to live in authenticity. 

May we choose to walk the path of humility and truth, and may we strive to become more like Jesus.—Marino J. Dasmarinas