Daily Readings - Mon Aug 22 2022
2 Thessalonians
1Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ2Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ3We ought to give thanks always to God for you, brothers, in a fitting manner, because your faith is increasing greatly, and because the charity of each of you toward one another is abundant4so much so that we ourselves even glory in you among the churches of God, because of your patience and faith in all of your persecutions and tribulations that you endure5which are a sign of the just judgment of God, so that you may be held worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer11Because of this, too, we pray always for you, so that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may complete every act of his goodness, as well as his work of faith in virtue12in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
Matthew
13So then: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you close the kingdom of heaven before men. For you yourselves do not enter, and those who are entering, you would not permit to enter14Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you consume the houses of widows, praying long prayers. Because of this, you shall receive the greater judgment15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and by land, in order to make one convert. And when he has been converted, you make him twice the son of Hell that you are yourselves16Woe to you, blind guides, who say: ‘Whoever will have sworn by the temple, it is nothing. But whoever will have sworn by the gold of the temple is obligated.17You are foolish and blind! For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold18And you say: ‘Whoever will have sworn by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever will have sworn by the gift that is on the altar is obligated.19How blind you are! For which is greater: the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift20Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears by it, and by all that is on it21And whoever will have sworn by the temple, swears by it, and by him who dwells in it22And whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits upon it
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected messages that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and hypocrisy. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians is a letter of encouragement, where Paul praises the Thessalonians for their growing faith and abundant love amidst persecution. He commends their patience and faith, which are signs of their worthiness of God's kingdom. Paul also prays for their continued growth in living out their faith, that they may glorify Jesus through their actions and perseverance.
In contrast, the Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus confronting the scribes and Pharisees, criticizing their hypocrisy. He denounces their actions, such as shutting the kingdom of heaven to others and exploiting widows, while also highlighting their flawed reasoning about oaths. Jesus points out their error in valuing material things over the sacred, emphasizing that the container is more significant than its contents. This critique serves as a warning against focusing on outward appearances rather than inner righteousness.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith. Are we like the Thessalonians, growing in faith and love despite challenges, or are we like the Pharisees, prioritizing the wrong things and living hypocritically? The moral lesson here is the importance of sincerity in faith. True faith is not about outward shows but about living according to God's will, with patience, love, and perseverance. Let us strive to be like the Thessalonians, living out our faith genuinely, and avoid the pitfalls of hypocrisy, focusing instead on glorifying God in all we do.