By Brian Cook
There is a story a preacher told many years ago that really stuck with me. As the story goes, “An aging teacher of preachers was retiring. He had worked several decades in the training of future pastors. His many students from the multiple decades all gathered to honor his retirement. As the night progressed, several former students told stories of how the aged preacher had impacted their lives for the good. Each shared grounded compliments and examples of their praise. There were many smiles and plenty of tears. The elderly pastor listened with humble reverence. Finally, the group decided that ‘the man of the hour’ should speak. He got up and cordially thanked everyone who attended. He especially thanked the various speakers for their kind words. Then he spoke, and his opening line made the world seem to stand still. He said bluntly, “If you could see my heart you’d spit in my face’.”
That story has stuck with me for many years. Whether that story is factually true or not I cannot prove. Either way, it rings true. The old pastor, in his wisdom, and after many years of active ministry, knew that in some ways he was a hypocrite. Just like you and me. Hypocrite is a strong word, I know, and I use it only to call attention to our plight. Jesus uses it properly in Matthew 23. This scathing rebuke from Jesus towards the Scribes and the Pharisees is most assuredly one of the main reasons they sought His death. In this passage, there seems to be direct connections between this rebuke by Jesus (v. 1-33), the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus (v.34 and 39), and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (v.36 and 38) all stirred together. The hypocrisy of the religious leaders of that day had reached its full measure and the whole system was ripe for the judgement of Almighty God to come upon that “generation”. Complete hypocrisy leading to complete dismantling. Jerusalem, which was supposed to be the home of the people of God, and heart of the worship of God, was prophesied to be utterly destroyed.
And if hypocrisy can lead to such devastation, how can I remove it from my life when I sense its presence in my heart? Is there a process by which I can progress towards victory? Are there steps I can take? Is there a legitimate hope for improvement, or am I left with an “Oh well, I guess it is what it is”?
To be sure, the old preacher above wasn’t calling Himself a hypocrite in the sense that Jesus used it. But maybe, after hearing all the flowery words about himself, he was left knowing how far he still had to go to measure up to those words. We too have a deep sense of the work left to do in our effort to answer Jesus’ call to sainthood. Make no mistake, Jesus does command us to be Saints. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus says, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This is echoed in 1 Peter 1:15, “but as He Who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” And so, the Catholic Church teaches that by “practicing your faith” (participating in the Sacraments and being faithful to obey Christ and live a life of prayer – and going to Confession when you can’t, won’t, or don’t) you will remain in a “state of grace”. And this state is the opposite of hypocrisy. And in this way, beloved, practice makes perfect.
In response, the Church seeks to recognize this transformation from sinner to saint (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:13). The “Canonization of a Saint” process is not the Church parading around a person who achieved spiritual perfection on their own. No, rather it is a celebration of the power of the One Who does the impossible (Matthew 19:26) and helps us by His Spirit (John 14:16) to achieve the goal of our salvation. May all Christians everywhere take up this call to holiness, for the glory of God, the encouragement of His Church, and as testimony to the world.
Brian Cook converted to Catholicism in April 2021. He is available for speaking and teaching engagements in any parish, church, or group setting. He may be contacted at thedtc@protonmail.com or thedevotiontochrist@gmail.com.
