There’s a story about a rabbi who gave money to a drunkard.

There’s a story about a rabbi who gave money to a drunkard. When criticized for it, he said, “Should I be more particular than God who gave me the money?” An authentic religious person doesn’t judge the sinner but identifies with him, like Jesus queuing up with sinners for John’s baptism of repentance. But fake religious people are always judging; they exist on it. They are religious in order to be able to condemn others. They haven't acknowledged their own sinfulness, so they project it onto others; then all their fury is fuelled by a hidden self-hatred. Even when the content of what they are saying is correct, everything they say is vitiated.  

I once heard an old man say to a group of young priests, “If you don't love people, for God's sake don't preach!” You may be able to express some true opinions, but you will not be able to “speak the truth in love”. The very truth of what you say will blind you to the underlying hatred. 

 

The Pharisees have long disappeared from history, but the Church has us reading about them frequently in the Liturgy. Why? Because we haven't gone away, you know!