August 24. SEE.  Hypocrisy.  “There are too many hypocrites in our churches and communities,” Joel stated before the group session got under way.   “I know that in some of our parish groups there are people who want to be seen as leaders but are dishonest in their business dealings, abuse their wives or even have an affair with someone else.   The frightening thing is that people see this but don’t do anything about it.   Of course no one really knows what goes on inside families, but I wish someone would write a “woe to you” letter to a guy I know.  It might make him wake up.”    

JUDGE. Reflect, share, act. Scripture:   Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.   Matt 23:13.  Pope Francis:    Every form of sexual submission must be clearly rejected.   This includes all improper interpretations of the passage in Ephesians where Paul tells women to be subject to your husbands. This passage mirrors the cultural categories of the time, but our concern is with the revealed message that it conveys. Be mindful, ‘be subject to one another.’ AL156    Pope Leo:  Saint Augustine wrote: “There is no one who shuns the desire for peace, yet not everyone is willing to practice justice.  But perform the works of justice, keeping in mind that justice and peace have embraced; they are not at odds with one another. Why do you set yourself against justice? Here, for example, is justice telling you not to steal, but you pay no heed; not to commit adultery, and you turn a deaf ear; not to do to others what you would not want done to yourself; not to say about your neighbor the things you would not want said about yourself… Do you therefore wish to attain peace? Then practice justice!”  Let us never grow weary of seeking justice!  MH215.        ACT AND PRAY. Examine your conscience on the issue of hypocrisy.      Pray St Francis Peace Prayer and pray: Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, Patroness of South Africa, pray for us.