Mahatma Gandhi of India is alleged to have said, "If I had ever met someone who was a genuine Christian, I would have become one immediately." It is a stinging judgment of Christians. At the same time, it challenges every Christian to examine the genuineness of his or her walk and witness. We need to ask ourselves: "How authentic, how credible is my demonstration of the Christian life?"

In our scripture lesson for today Jesus criticizes certain characteristics of the Pharisees, a sectarian group within Judaism. Because Jesus was so often in conflict with the Pharisees, we are apt to think of them as enemies of the good. Nothing could be further from the truth. They were pillars of the community, ardent patriots, and respected in the community as citizens of highest character. The Pharisee…