Daily Readings - Tue Aug 27 2024

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

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of living with authenticity and integrity in our faith. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians warns us against being deceived by false claims about the Lord’s return. St. Paul urges the community to stand firm in their traditions and not be swayed by empty words or misleading spirits. This passage emphasizes the need for steadfastness and trust in God’s plan, even when uncertainty or false teachings arise. The context of this letter was a community anxious about the Second Coming, and Paul reassures them that the Lord’s timing is not to be doubted or feared unnecessarily. The Gospel from Matthew complements this message by highlighting the danger of hypocrisy. Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their meticulous observance of minor laws, such as tithing herbs, while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. He compares them to cups cleaned on the outside but filthy within, calling them to first purify their hearts before worrying about outward appearances. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives: are we more concerned with how we look to others, or are we truly living out our faith with sincerity and compassion? Both readings call us to authenticity. In a world filled with distractions and false priorities, we are invited to focus on what truly matters—living with integrity, standing firm in our faith, and cultivating a heart that reflects God’s love. Let us not be like the Pharisees, straining out gnats while swallowing camels. Instead, let us allow God to clean our inner cups, that our actions and intentions may align with His will. In doing so, we become beacons of truth and grace in a world that sorely needs both.