4/16/25 When Religion Gets in the Way
- Fr. Patrick Bush
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Takeaway: Letting go of legalism to embrace relationship.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” — Matthew 23:27-28
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, As I come before You in this quiet moment, I ask for Your presence to fill this space. Open my eyes to see Your truth, my ears to hear Your voice, and my spirit to feel Your guidance. Help me to set aside distractions and fully focus on You. May this time of devotion deepen my love for You and transform my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection
Jesus’ words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28 are among the harshest in the Gospels. He calls out their outward religiosity and points out how their obsession with appearances and ritual had caused them to miss the heart of God’s law. On the outside, they seemed righteous, like beautifully whitewashed tombs—clean, polished, and impressive. But on the inside, their hearts were far from God, filled with hypocrisy.
The Pharisees’ focus on external acts of religion had obscured the inner transformation that God desires. They were more concerned with following the letter of the law—often to an extreme degree—than with cultivating a genuine relationship with God. In their legalism, they created an illusion of righteousness, but it was all surface-level. Their religion had become about rules, rituals, and self-righteousness rather than humility, grace, and love.
We can easily fall into the same trap today. Religion, in its purest form, was meant to point us toward a deep, personal relationship with God. But when we prioritize rules over relationships, we miss the very heart of the Gospel. Legalism can become a barrier to true intimacy with God. It makes our relationship with Him transactional, focused on external actions rather than internal transformation.
When we let go of legalism and embrace relationship with God, we can approach Him with honesty and humility. We no longer need to hide behind facades of perfection. We can bring our struggles, doubts, and failures to Him, knowing that He is a loving Father who desires to restore and renew us. The freedom of relationship with God means that we are no longer enslaved by the need to perform or earn His love. We are free to live in His grace and mercy, knowing that His love is unconditional and unearned.
Question
In what areas of my life do I need to let go of perfectionism and embrace God’s grace more fully?
Application
• Examine Your Heart. Take time to reflect on your relationship with God. Are you focused on doing things for God to earn His love or approval?
• Embrace Grace Over Perfection. Legalism often pushes us toward perfectionism, but grace invites us to accept God’s love even when we fall short.
• Focus on Relationship, Not Ritual. It’s easy to get caught up in doing religious activities, such as attending church, reading the Bible, or praying, without considering the state of our hearts. Instead of focusing on the external acts, focus on deepening your relationship with God.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for Your grace that covers all my imperfections. Help me to let go of any legalistic thinking that places more value on external actions than on a transformed heart. Teach me to embrace a deeper relationship with You, one that is not based on rituals but on love and surrender. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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