At Mass in Casa Santa Marta on Monday, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, in which the chief priests asked Jesus by what authority He did His works.
This was a demand that demonstrates the “hypocritical heart” of those people, Pope Francis said.
They were people who were not interested in the truth, who sought only their own interests, and went where the wind blew: …” They were weathervanes, all of them! All of them! Without consistency. A heart without consistency.”
“And so they negotiated everything: they negotiated interior freedom, they negotiated the faith, they negotiated their country, everything except appearances.
“To such people, getting the best out of every situation was the important thing.
“They were opportunists: “They profited from the situations.”
Pope Francis continued: “..and yet, some of you might ask me: ‘But Father, these people were observers of the law: on Saturday they didn’t travel more than a hundred metres – or however many they were able to go – they never, never sat down to eat without washing their hands and making their ablutions; they were a very observant people, very secure in their habits.’
“Yes, it’s true – but only in appearance.
“They were strong, but on the outside. They were in a cast.
“The heart was very week, they didn’t know what they believed.
“And because of this their life, the outer part of their life, was completely regulated, but the heart was otherwise: a weak heart, and a skin that was plastered over, strong, harsh.
“Jesus, on the other hand, teaches us that the Christian should have a strong heart, a firm heart, a heart built on the rock, that is Christ; and then, in the way it goes out, it goes out with prudence:
“‘In this case, I do this, but…’ It is the way of going out, but the heart is not negotiable, the rock is not negotiable. The rock is Christ, it is not negotiable.
“This is the drama of the hypocrisy of this people. And Jesus never negotiates His heart of the Son of the Father, but He was so open to the people, seeking paths to help them.
“‘But this can’t be done; our discipline, our doctrine say this can’t be done!’ they say.
“‘Why do your disciples eat grain in the fields, when they travel, on the day of the Sabbath? It can’t be done!’ They were so rigid in their discipline: ‘No, the discipline can’t be touched, it’s sacred.'” Continue reading
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