If this is not hypocrisy, then, what is …
Do you know what most people pretend to be these days? They pretend to be disrespectful, for respect nowadays is not trendy, whereas disrespect is. Let me tell you how: one goes to a restaurant and does not make his cross, for he says he’s embarrassed. He goes past a church and does not make his cross; he does so under his jacket. There are some who behave it like that. What is this? Isn’t it hypocrisy? It is hypocrisy. Why is this so? Is it show off to make your cross? No, it’s not. It is an act of salvation, for you bless your food. If your food is prepared with sorcery, you’ll eat the spells and also the devil inside. How will the devil go away if you don’t cross your food? They say, “we’re embarrassed for we’re being watched”.
Or some lady happens to have a memorial service during Lent and she serves meat. What will you do? Will you eat meat or not? Some clever ones say “we shall eat it so as not to offend them”. But precisely because you eat it, you scandalize them, for they know that you’re supposed to be religious…So, they might say, she ate meat without respecting fasting, and yet she goes to church.
