Daily Readings - Mon Aug 26 2024
2 Thessalonians
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.
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that call us to reflect on our faith and our relationship with God. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians is a letter of encouragement and thanksgiving. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy express their gratitude for the growing faith and abundant love of the Thessalonian community. They remind the believers that their endurance of persecutions and tribulations is a sign of God’s just judgment, preparing them for the kingdom of God. The authors pray that God may fulfill His good work in them and that the name of Jesus Christ may be glorified in their lives.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a stark contrast. Jesus addresses the scribes and Pharisees with a series of woes, condemning their hypocrisy. He accuses them of closing the kingdom of heaven to others, exploiting the vulnerable, and prioritizing outward appearances over genuine faith. Jesus critiques their legalistic approach to religion, where they focus on oaths and external rituals rather than the heart of God’s commandments. He calls them blind guides, more concerned with gold and gifts than the sacredness of the temple and the altar.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith and actions. Like the Thessalonians, we are called to endure trials with patience and trust in God’s plan. At the same time, we must avoid the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who prioritized appearances over authenticity. True faith is not about outward displays or legalistic observances but about living with integrity, compassion, and a heart centered on God. Let us strive to be people of genuine faith, enduring life’s challenges with grace and living in a way that reflects the love and justice of Christ.