Daily Readings - Tue Aug 23 2022

¹But we ask you, brothers, concerning the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering to him²that you not be readily disturbed or terrified in your minds, by any spirit, or word, or epistle, supposedly sent from us, claiming that the day of the Lord is close by³Let no one deceive you in any way. For this cannot be, unless the apostasy will have arrived first, and the man of sin will have been revealed, the son of perdition¹⁴He has also called you into truth through our Gospel, unto the acquisition of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ¹⁵And so, brothers, stand firm, and hold to the traditions that you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle¹⁶So may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who has loved us and who has given us an everlasting consolation and good hope in grace¹⁷exhort your hearts and confirm you in every good word and deed

Matthew

Chapter 23

²³Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you collect tithes on mint and dill and cumin, but you have abandoned the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, while not omitting the others²⁴You blind guides, straining out a gnat, while swallowing a camel²⁵Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you clean what is outside the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of avarice and impurity²⁶You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, and then what is outside becomes clean

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the balance between outward practices and inward faith. In the second reading from 2 Thessalonians, St. Paul warns the early Christians not to be deceived by false claims about the Lord’s return. He encourages them to stand firm in the traditions they have received and to trust in God’s grace, which strengthens them in every good word and deed. This passage emphasizes the importance of remaining grounded in faith, even when faced with confusion or uncertainty. In the Gospel, Jesus critiques the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They meticulously observe minor details of the law, such as tithing on mint and dill, but neglect the weightier matters like judgment, mercy, and faith. Jesus points out the absurdity of their focus on outward appearances—cleaning the outside of the cup while leaving the inside filled with greed and impurity. His words remind us that true righteousness begins within. Our actions and practices should flow from a heart that is pure and aligned with God’s will. Both readings call us to examine our own lives. Are we more concerned with appearances or with living out our faith authentically? Do we focus on the “small stuff” while neglecting the deeper demands of love, mercy, and justice? Let us ask for the grace to stand firm in our faith, to trust in God’s guidance, and to cultivate a purity of heart that shines outward in all we do. May we not be blind guides, straining out gnats while swallowing camels, but rather may we be people of integrity, whose actions reflect the truth of our inner devotion.