Jesus thought that the Pharisees and scribes were merely partially wrong, and he deeply desired their full conversion. He tried to show them that religion cannot be merely exterior because humans are a union of body and soul.
Faith, therefore, must be practiced both interiorly and exteriorly. When either is disregarded, it is impossible to know God to our fullest capacity.
Jesus’ hard-hitting words are a challenge to both inner and outer conversion. One could imagine him saying to us, “You go through the motions, attend church, read the Bible, receive the sacraments, but you still do not recognize me?” Or, for those who fall prey to the opposite extreme, “You neglect to come to worship and to receive my graces regularly in the sacraments, and you think you know me?”
In moments like this, Jesus insists, “Come to me” (Mt 11:28). Where is Jesus? He is in the Church: “He is the head of the body, the church” (Col 1:18). He is in the Eucharist: “I am the Bread of Life” (Jn 6:35). He is in the poor, the vulnerable, and the needy: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). And through your Baptism, he is within each of us: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (Jn 14:23).”
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