Daily Readings - Mon Aug 28 2017
First Reading - 1 Thessalonians 1.1-5, 8b-10
1 Thessalonians
1Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye 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, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Gospel - Matthew 23.13-22
Matthew
13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.21And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that challenge 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 Thessalonian community. He highlights their conversion from idolatry to the living God, their enduring hope in Christ, and how their faith has spread far beyond their city. This passage reminds us that genuine faith is not passive; it overflows into action, inspiring others and bearing witness to the power of the Gospel.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a stark contrast as Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He condemns their failure to live according to the teachings they espouse, their exploitation of the vulnerable, and their misguided emphasis on outward appearances rather than inner transformation. Jesus’ words are a call to integrity, warning us against allowing our faith to become hollow or self-serving. True faith, as Jesus emphasizes, must be lived out in sincerity and humility.
These readings invite us to examine our own lives. Are we like the Thessalonians, allowing our faith to shine brightly and transform those around us? Or do we risk falling into the trap of hypocrisy, prioritizing appearances over authenticity? Let us strive to live with the kind of integrity that Paul praises and Jesus demands. May our actions reflect the love and hope of Christ, and may our lives be a testament to the transformative power of genuine faith.