Daily Readings - Tue Aug 28 2018

¹Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,²not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.³Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,¹⁴To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁵So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.¹⁶Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,¹⁷comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Matthew

Chapter 23

²³"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.²⁴You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!²⁵"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.²⁶You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of authenticity and steadfastness in our faith. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians cautions us against being deceived by false claims and encourages us to stand firm in the traditions of our faith. It emphasizes the need for resilience and trust in God’s plan, especially when faced with confusion or false teachings. The context of this passage is likely a time of confusion in the early church, where believers were concerned about the timing of Christ’s return. Paul reassures them that they must remain steadfast and not be swayed by false information. The Gospel from Matthew complements this message by highlighting the importance of inner purity over outward appearances. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, pointing out that while they meticulously observe minor rituals, they neglect the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. He uses the metaphor of cleaning the inside of the cup before the outside, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from within. This passage serves as a reminder to examine our own lives and ensure that our actions align with our faith, rather than just going through the motions. Together, these readings call us to live authentically and with integrity. In our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in superficial details and lose sight of what truly matters. We are encouraged to focus on justice, mercy, and faith, and to ensure that our inner lives reflect the values we profess outwardly. Let us take a moment to reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves: Are we standing firm in our faith? Are we living with sincerity and integrity? May we strive to be people of true faith, living out our beliefs in every aspect of our lives.