Daily Readings - Mon Aug 25 2025
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that call us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the integrity of our actions. The first reading from 1 Thessalonians expresses Paul’s gratitude for the vibrant faith of the early Christian community in Thessalonica. He highlights their “work of faith, labor of love, and endurance in hope,” which not only transformed their own lives but also inspired others. The Gospel from Matthew, however, presents a stark contrast as Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He condemns their empty religious practices, such as lengthy prayers for show and their obsession with converting others while leading them further from true faith. Jesus’ words are a sharp reminder that our relationship with God cannot be reduced to outward appearances or hollow rituals.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on the authenticity of faith. Paul praises the Thessalonians because their faith was not just a set of beliefs but a way of life that flowed from their hearts and transformed their actions. In contrast, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for prioritizing appearances over substance, using religion to manipulate and control rather than to serve and love. Together, these readings challenge us to examine whether our faith is a living, breathing force in our lives or merely a facade.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we living as authentic disciples of Christ, or are we content with superficial religiosity? Do our words and actions reflect the love and hope of the Gospel, or do we, like the Pharisees, focus on external practices that hide an empty heart? The moral lesson here is clear: true faith must be rooted in sincerity and integrity. Let us strive to be like the Thessalonians, whose faith was so genuine and transformative that it inspired others. May we avoid the trap of hypocrisy and instead allow our faith to shine through in the way we love, serve, and live each day.