Daily Readings - Mon Aug 23 2021
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.
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
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.