Sanctimonious haters

The world is full of sanctimonious haters, even in a faith that emphasizes forgiveness.

Some liberals are sanctimonious about tolerance and diversity and water down the concept of sin to undetectability while they vehemently denounce and hatefully despise conservatives.

Some conservatives are sanctimonious about their orthodoxy and rubrical correctness while they violate charity and over-emphasize their favorite corners of Church doctrine to the point of distortion.

Today's first reading (1 John 2:3-11) speaks to all of us about truly knowing Christ.

The way we may be sure that we know him
is to keep his commandments.

Whoever says, "I know him,"
but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.

This is the way we may know
that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him
ought to walk just as he walked.

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment
that you had from the beginning.

The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.

Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.

Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.

Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

May we love each other in Christ and in truth.