Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 22, 2022
First Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1.1-5, 11b-12
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.4Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.5This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering--11To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 96
1Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!2Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!9Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;12let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy13before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Gospel: Matthew 23.13-22
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
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.