Reflection questions for after viewing:
Reflection Questions
In the message, it was said that the first move towards wholeness is first realizing that something is wrong. How has the pandemic revealed areas in your life that need to change in order for you to become whole?
How does Jesus describe hypocrites in tonight’s passage? How do you see this motivation toward hypocrisy in yourself?
Thomas Merton describes hypocrisy as a false self. Consider this quote: “Every one of us is shadowed by an illusory person: a false self. This is the man that I want myself to be but who cannot exist, because God does not know anything about him… My false and private self is the one who wants to exist outside the reach of God's will and God's love – outside of reality and outside of life. And such a self cannot help but be an illusion.”
How does hypocrisy compel us to live out of a false self?
What is Jesus trying to communicate with his emphasis on secrecy? How does our secret time with Jesus help us detox from hypocrisy and find our true selves? How is your secret time with Jesus?
- Consider this quote from Brennan Manning: “Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.”
How does this sound to you? What do you find beautiful about this invitation? What do you find challenging?