Webster's Dictionary defines a hypocrite as "a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he does not hold."

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus grows frustrated with a group of religious leaders who are upset that Jesus and his followers do not adhere to their prescribed rituals for hand washing before meals.

"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites," Jesus says. "'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'"

I find myself reluctant to call anyone a hypocrite. I'm afraid that once I point out how someone else's behavior doesn't match their words or beliefs, the finger of guilt is going come right back around to me. I mean, I say I believe a lot of things. I believe it is better to give than to receive. I believe God is a more reliable source of happiness than are money and success. I believe that those of us who have been given a lot should help support those who have received very little. But do my actions match my words and beliefs?

Much of the time, the answer to that question is "no." My actions do not match beliefs and opinions. This means that I profess beliefs that, in the end, I do not hold. Hypocrite. It is not a nice word. Not something I want to be called. Not something I have the right call anyone else.

Of course, another way to look at the equation is this: just what do our actions tell us we really believe? If you're like me and you spend most of your time worrying about and working towards financial security, popularity and social status, then it would be pretty clear that these are the powers and forces that we really believe in.

I have often said that Christianity would be easy if it were just a matter of following rules. If all we really had to do was attend church, wash our hands in the correct manner, and perform other required tasks, our religion might be inconvenient but it would not be difficult. But the Christian faith is about a relationship, not rules. And a relationship is measured not just by external behavior but by internal intention and motivation.

We are called to do the right things for the right reasons. Chief among those things is to love God and our neighbor more than we love our own success and security.

Jesus challenges us to examine whether our words and our actions are consistent. We may need to wash our hands by the rules, but we must also examine our hearts. This is a rich challenge indeed --- one that gets at the core of what it means to be, and to call ourselves, a follower of Christ.

The good news is that Jesus promises to transform our hearts if we will call on him for that conversion. We cannot do it ourselves. Thank God that while our hands may be dirty, our hearts can be clean.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.