Daily Readings - Wed Aug 25 2021

⁹For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.¹⁰Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:¹¹As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,¹²That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.¹³For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Matthew

Chapter 23

²⁷Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.²⁸Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.²⁹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,³⁰And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.³¹Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.³²Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the way we live it out. In the first reading from 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul reminds the early Christians of his own example of integrity and hard work. He and his companions preached the Gospel not for personal gain but out of love, working tirelessly to support themselves so as not to burden others. Paul emphasizes that the Word of God they shared was not merely human words but the divine truth that transforms hearts. This passage challenges us to consider the sincerity of our own actions and the way we share our faith with others. In the Gospel, Jesus offers a stark contrast with His critique of the scribes and Pharisees. He condemns their hypocrisy, comparing them to whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled with decay within. Jesus points out their outward show of piety while inwardly they are consumed by pride and injustice. This passage serves as a warning against religious superficiality, reminding us that true faith must penetrate to the heart and transform our lives. The Pharisees, in their pride, fail to recognize their own sinfulness, and Jesus calls them to accountability for their actions. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not about appearances but about authenticity. St. Paul’s example shows us that living out our faith requires humility, hard work, and a genuine love for others. Jesus’ words, on the other hand, warn us against the danger of hypocrisy—of looking righteous on the outside while neglecting the inner transformation that faith demands. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living our faith with sincerity and integrity? Do our words and actions reflect the truth of the Gospel, or are we content with outward appearances? May we strive to be people of true faith, allowing the Word of God to take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives.