My Own Hypocrisy & Matthew 9:11-12

Last spring, I hung two blessed crucifixes in the house of an unwell relative. I put one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Said relative is Protestant-raised, but per Pope John Paul II’s concept, an adherent of “practical atheism.”

In my recent frustration with the recipient of the crucifixes, I considered going to their house to take back my crucifixes.

Then I had the thought (locution?)…

They’re not mine to take.

Not because they are now the other person’s property. Or because of any gifting etiquette.

But how hypocritical would it be to remove the crucifixes from the house of a person who seemingly needs them most?

The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.” ~Matthew 9:11-12 NABRE

If I were to lay my hand on either one of those crucifixes, wrapping my palm around the tool of execution, to take the image of the Lord away from the presence of a sinner whom He seeks, I’d be rejoining the soldiers in grasping the mallets and hammering the nails into the Lord.

So I left the crucifixes at the house.

At the house of the relative with whom I am displeased.

They shall stay there.

It was previously reported to me that the recipient of the crucifixes told someone that they’d prefer they be simple crosses, without the corpus.

Well, they’re staying!

Originally published on Seeking the Mercy in the Mundane on Substack. Subscribe for free on Substack to receive new reflections directly in your inbox.