Dear friends in Christ,
Today, Jesus’ rebuke of the Scribes and Pharisees hits close to home. He calls them “whitewashed tombs,” a vivid metaphor for those living cosmetic lives. We all know the art of makeup – it covers, conceals, and creates an outward appearance that may not reflect the truth within.
Sadly, many of us live this way spiritually. Our outward appearance as Christians may differ vastly from our inner reality. We present ourselves as saints and good people, but behind closed doors, our true selves remain hidden. This hypocrisy can be subtle, even deceiving ourselves.
Jesus calls us to authenticity, to be original Christians, not just cosmetic ones. He wants our actions to match our words, our beliefs to align with our practices. No more hiding behind masks or pretending to be someone we’re not.
May God help us shun the temptation of hypocrisy and cosmetic living. May we embrace originality and authenticity, living out our faith genuinely, without pretenses. Let’s strive to be real, transparent, and true to ourselves and others, reflecting Christ’s love in every aspect of our lives.
Shalom!
