The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Deny Lucas SVD – Divine Word College of Laoag
Friday 10th Week in Ordinary Time
Everywhere in the Gospels we see Jesus strike unusually hard blows at hypocrisy — the problem of a clean outside and a corrupt inside. With His sharp discerning mind and keen understanding of human psychology, Jesus always struck at the core of things. He went to the very cause of our troubles.
In today’s Gospel, He says: “Anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). It is where your heart is that counts! Evidently, the Pharisees were underhanded in their criticism of Jesus. But He was not deceived; He knew their attitude. He said: “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4). They lacked the courage to speak openly, so they tried to cover their envy and hatred with flattering words: “Master, we know you are an honest teacher and fear no man. Tell us then, is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:16–17). Jesus saw through their words into their hearts and answered: “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?” (Matthew 22:18).
Another time Jesus told His disciples: “This people’s heart has grown dull” (Matthew 13:15). Notice He did not say they were dull of brain. He did not complain about their low intelligence. He wished they were not dull of heart — empty of godly desire, uninterested in purity.
Jesus also taught: “Nothing outside a person can defile them… it is what comes out of a person that defiles them” (Mark 7:15). “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). And again: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
It is deep in the core of our being that human goodness and uprightness must dwell. Jesus is not deceived by false fronts; He sees into our hearts and knows the motives of our actions. We cannot fool Him with invented excuses. By His strong statement about “plucking out your eye if it leads you to sin” (Matthew 5:29), Jesus is saying that we are responsible for what goes on in our minds and hearts. We must uproot corruption at its source and direct our wills to a pure desire for God.
Lord Jesus, give us light to know our inner hearts, that we may direct them to You and live with purity of love and desire.
