The Struggle of the Heart: Seeing Ourselves Clearly

I was walking with someone on their faith journey, and they opened up to me, saying, “Father, I see what’s good, but I don’t seek it. Instead, I find myself drawn to what’s bad, even though I know it’s wrong.” They felt torn inside, caught between who they wanted to be and who they felt they were. Then they said something that struck me: “I feel like a hypocrite.”

I had to be honest—I feel that way sometimes too. Even as a priest, I struggle with the same human weaknesses. It’s a common struggle for all of us.

Think about the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were the defenders of the Jewish faith, fighting for God from the days of Adam and Eve to Moses. They believed deeply, but they lost their way. In the Gospel, Jesus tells them, “You are keeping people from entering heaven.” That’s a heavy accusation. None of us want to be the reason someone else can’t find their way to God.

But they didn’t realize it. They thought they were serving God, but pride, jealousy, and ego had crept into their hearts. It’s easy to think we’re better than others, but God often shows us our own flaws to keep us humble.

Friends, it’s important to look in the mirror—not just the physical one, but the one that reflects our soul. We all have moments of pride or anger, and God lets us see these moments to teach us and help us grow.

Sometimes, God allows us to see our weaknesses so we can wake up and change. If we don’t recognize our flaws, we risk becoming proud. And remember, pride was the downfall of Satan.

So, let’s stay humble and keep our hearts open. Remember, Jesus speaks not just to them back then, but to us today. Let’s be mindful of our actions and always strive to be better.