Words, Action, and Hypocrisy

A man's character is first reflected in his words, as Sirach reminds us

In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a man appear in his talk. The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a man is in his conversation.
    Ecclesiasticus 27:5-6

However, more important are the actions he takes. For it is the action or 'fruits' of his words that count in the final assessment. As Luke says in his gospel:

There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit.
     Luke 6:43

At the end of the day, the people around you will be able to see you for what you are. For

If much depends on the result of a single interview, or a couple of interviews, a man may conceivably force another to accept an impression of himself which he would like to convey. But if the receiver of the impression is to have time at his disposal, then the giver of the impression may just as well sit down and put his hands in his pockets, for nothing that he can do will modify or influence in any way the impression that he will ultimately give. The real impress is, in the end, given unconsciously, not consciously; and further, it is received unconsciously, not consciously.
     Arnold Bennett

Hypocrisy occurs when one's actions are not congruent with his words. For

Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own?
    Luke 6:42

As Father Stanislaus Pang reminded us during the homily today, we have to beware of falling in this trap, for while we plead for social justice in the world, are we acting it out at home? with our domestic worker?