Pope Francis says no to hypocrisy

Pope’s Morning Homily: Beware of 'Virus' of Hypocrisy

During Mass at Santa Marta, Warns Against Self-Righteous Attitude Which Seduces With Lies

    

Vatican City, October 16, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Deborah Castellano Lubov              

 

Pope Francis has prescribed the "medicine" for if one is "infected" by the "virus" of hypocrisy: praying.
During his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, the Holy Father warned against hypocrisy, calling it a self-righteous attitude "that seduces with lies that lurk in the shadows," reported Vatican Radio.
The Pope began by reflecting on today's Gospel from Luke, in which Jesus and His disciples are in the midst of a crowd who are trampling on each other. The Pontiff pointed out that Christ warned His disciples: "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees." The Pope observed that yeast is "a very small thing," yet Jesus speaks about it as if it were a "virus."
Almost like a doctor, Jesus is warning his fellow partners about the risks of it becoming an epidemic, Francis said.
Hypocrisy, the Pontiff explained, does not have a color, rather it plays with halftones and creeps in, seducing with a lie.
"This yeast is a virus that will cause you to get sick and die. Beware! This yeast brings darkness. Beware! But there is one that is greater than this: it is the Father who is in heaven."
The Pontiff told those gathered that praying, as indicated by Christ, is the only way to avoid the infection. Francis concluded, saying that only with prayer can one avoid falling into that "self-righteous attitude" of hypocrisy.