Daily Inspiration

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.” -Matthew 23:13
 
If you have never felt the sting of your own hypocrisy at some point, you are either very blessed or in denial. It is easy for us to fall into the enemy’s trap and behave in a way that causes us to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
 
I can think of nothing worse than to hear Jesus, my Lord, say to me, “Woe to you.” Christ challenges us to proclaim not just through our words that we are His followers but to proclaim His Gospel through every fiber of our being and every action of our day.
 
When we read Scripture and meditate on the Word, we should reflect on our own lives. If His words cause us to feel the unwanted sting of our hypocrisy, we should thank God for His generous grace. It is a blessing to feel that pain now and make the necessary changes; otherwise, we may find ourselves locked out of the Kingdom of heaven when this life passes.
 
Saint Orontius of Lecce, pray for us.
 
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Jesus, I trust in you.