💖 HOMILY - MARCH 18 💖

First Reading - Isaiah 1:10,16-20

Gospel - Matthew 23:1-12

Many times, we live a double-faced life. We wear masks—masks of pretension, of self-righteousness, of wanting to appear better than we truly are. We create an image for the world while hiding what lies beneath. But today’s readings challenge us to remove those masks and live authentically before God and one another.  

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah delivers a harsh rebuke to the leaders of Israel. They are called the "rulers of Sodom" and the "people of Gomorrah," not because they literally belong to those infamous cities, but because their corruption is just as severe. Their religious rituals are empty because their hearts are far from God. They oppress the poor, ignore the suffering of widows and orphans, and yet they continue offering sacrifices as if God will overlook their injustice. Isaiah tells them plainly: Stop doing evil, learn to do good, seek justice, defend the oppressed. Only then will they be washed clean. This is a direct call to all of us—do we practice our faith outwardly but live in contradiction to God's will? Are we more concerned with appearing holy than with truly living righteously?  

The Gospel intensifies this message. Jesus condemns the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy. They love their titles, their seats of honor, and the admiration of others, but their hearts are not right before God. Their religion has become a performance, not a relationship with God. Jesus warns against seeking superiority over others and calls His followers to a life of humility. "The greatest among you must be your servant." In Christ’s kingdom, true greatness is not in titles but in service; not in public recognition but in genuine love and humility.  

Dear friends, it is easy to fall into the trap of living for appearances. We may seem spiritual in public, yet struggle with sins we refuse to acknowledge. We may present ourselves as kind and generous while harboring resentment and pride. But Jesus calls us today to let go of this superficiality and embrace a genuine life. He invites us to remove the mask, to stop pretending, and to turn to Him with sincere hearts.  

St. Paul spoke of a "thorn in the flesh", a weakness that kept him humble before God. We all have our own thorns—flaws, temptations, struggles we try to hide. Instead of covering them up with pride or false righteousness, we must bring them before God in humility. Only then can we build a community of equals, a family of faith where love, not superiority, binds us together.  

Let us ask God for the grace to live authentically—not for human approval but for His glory. May we seek not to appear good, but to truly be good, knowing that a humble and contrite heart is what pleases God the most.