Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 25, 2021
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2.9-13
9For you remember, brothers, our hardship and weariness. We preached the Gospel of God among you, working night and day, so that we would not be burdensome to any of you10You are witnesses, as is God, of how holy and just and blameless we were with you who have believed11And you know the manner, with each one of you, like a father with his sons12in which we were pleading with you and consoling you, bearing witness, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you into his kingdom and glory13For this reason also, we give thanks to God without ceasing: because, when you had accepted from us the Word of the hearing of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but (as it truly is) as the Word of God, who is working in you who have believed
Psalm 139
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me2You have known my sitting down and my rising up again3You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated4And you have foreseen all my ways. For there is no word in my tongue5Behold, O Lord, you have known all things: the newest and the very old. You have formed me, and you have placed your hand over me6Your knowledge has become a wonder to me. It has been reinforced, and I am not able to prevail against it7Where will I go from your Spirit? And where will I flee from your face8If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I descend into Hell, you are near9If I assume my feathers in early morning, and dwell in the utmost parts of the sea10even there, your hand will lead me forth, and your right hand will hold me11And I said: Perhaps darkness will overwhelm me, and the night will be my illumination, to my delight12But darkness will not be impenetrable to you, and night will illuminate like the day: for just as its darkness is, so also is its light13For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother14I will confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well15My bone, which you have made in secret, has not been hidden from you, and my substance is in accord with the lower parts of the earth16Your eyes saw my imperfection, and all this shall be written in your book. Days will be formed, and no one shall be in them17But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened18I will number them, and they will be more numerous than the sand. I rose up, and I am still with you19O God, if only you would cut down sinners. You men of blood: depart from me20For you say in thought: They will accept your cities in vain21Have I not hated those who hated you, Lord, and wasted away because of your enemies22I have hated them with a perfect hatred, and they have become enemies to me23Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Question me, and know my paths24And see if there might be in me the way of iniquity, and lead me in the way of eternity
Gospel: Matthew 23.27-32
27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed sepulchers, which outwardly appear brilliant to men, yet truly, inside, they are filled with the bones of the dead and with all filth28So also, you certainly appear to men outwardly to be just. But inwardly you are filled with hypocrisy and iniquity29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites, who build the sepulchers of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the just30And then you say, ‘If we had been there in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined with them in the blood of the prophets.31And so you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the sons of those who killed the prophets32Complete, then, the measure of your fathers
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the way we live it out. In the first reading from 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul reminds the early Christians of his own example of integrity and hard work. He and his companions preached the Gospel not for personal gain but out of love, working tirelessly to support themselves so as not to burden others. Paul emphasizes that the Word of God they shared was not merely human words but the divine truth that transforms hearts. This passage challenges us to consider the sincerity of our own actions and the way we share our faith with others.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a stark contrast with His critique of the scribes and Pharisees. He condemns their hypocrisy, comparing them to whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled with decay within. Jesus points out their outward show of piety while inwardly they are consumed by pride and injustice. This passage serves as a warning against religious superficiality, reminding us that true faith must penetrate to the heart and transform our lives. The Pharisees, in their pride, fail to recognize their own sinfulness, and Jesus calls them to accountability for their actions.
Together, these readings remind us that faith is not about appearances but about authenticity. St. Paul’s example shows us that living out our faith requires humility, hard work, and a genuine love for others. Jesus’ words, on the other hand, warn us against the danger of hypocrisy—of looking righteous on the outside while neglecting the inner transformation that faith demands. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living our faith with sincerity and integrity? Do our words and actions reflect the truth of the Gospel, or are we content with outward appearances? May we strive to be people of true faith, allowing the Word of God to take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives.