I once knew of a builder who only ever drove a top of the range Mercedes regardless of how well the business was doing. His logic was simple. If he drove an expensive car, it meant he must be successful. If he was successful, it meant he had to be good. If he was good, then it meant that people would want to hire him for their building work. He was able to project an impression of himself that was independent from the reality of his situation. If we are honest there are many people today who do the same thing thanks to Social Media. By posting fabulous meals they are eating, and fabulous events they are attending, they can create an impression of their life that may be somewhat different from the reality.
It’s this difference between impression and reality that we are looking at today in our readings. In the gospel reading Jesus denounces the Pharisees for being hypocrites. He points out that they love to create the impression of being incredibly religious and pious so they can receive the respect and adoration of the public while the reality is that their lives are nothing like this. This is contrasted by Paul who in his letter to the Thessalonians demonstrates that the way he lived, in public and private, while with them, demonstrated his love of God and his love of them. He gave them a practical example to follow just as Jesus gave him the example to follow. The Pharisees talked the talk, Paul walked the walk. The Pharisees said, “do as we say”, Paul said “do as I do”. I don’t think we are much different today.
It was a sad realisation that I didn’t have to think too hard for a modern example of hypocrisy in the church. We hear frequently of the minister who has railed against morality but who is having an affair or shouting loudly about integrity while helping themselves to the funds in the church. How often is love preached while entire sections of the population are treated with derision or contempt? There is no shortage of Christians these days who love to project an image of piety and religiosity yet all they profess to believe has no effect on how they live their lives. It is easy to say that you love God, it is less easy to live a life where you put God first. Saying you love of your neighbour is easy when it is an abstract thought, it is less easy to carry out acts of love towards others. Anyone can say they are a Christian, it is much harder to actually be one. Christianity is not about memorising a list of rules, it’s about living in a new way; a way that reflects God’s love in all of our lives.