Daily Readings - Mon Aug 23 2021
1 Thessalonians
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace.2We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.8For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.9For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Matthew
13"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.14See Footnote15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.16"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'17You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?18And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.'19You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.21And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.22And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of authentic faith and the dangers of hypocrisy. In the first reading, St. Paul praises the Thessalonians for their vibrant faith, which has inspired others and spread the Gospel far and wide. He highlights their conversion from idolatry to the living God and their patient waiting for the return of Jesus. This passage reminds us that true faith is not passive; it is active, transformative, and contagious. The Thessalonians’ lives were marked by work, endurance, and hope—qualities that flowed from their deep relationship with Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, who prioritized outward appearances over inward conversion. They were more concerned with human approval and power than with living out God’s will. Jesus condemns their exploitation of the vulnerable, their empty religious practices, and their misplaced priorities. This passage serves as a warning to us all: our faith must not be about self-interest or superficial piety. True faith is humble, selfless, and rooted in a genuine love for God and neighbor.
These readings call us to examine our own lives. Are we living as authentic disciples of Christ, or are we content with a shallow faith? Like the Thessalonians, we are called to let our faith shine through our actions, enduring trials with patience and hope. At the same time, we must guard against hypocrisy, ensuring that our words and deeds align with the Gospel. Let us strive to be people of integrity, whose faith is not merely a set of rules or rituals but a living, breathing relationship with the Lord. In doing so, we become witnesses of God’s love, inspiring others to seek Him with all their hearts.