Daily Readings - Tue Aug 23 2022
2 Thessalonians
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Matthew
23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the balance between outward practices and inward faith. In the second reading from 2 Thessalonians, St. Paul warns the early Christians not to be deceived by false claims about the Lord’s return. He encourages them to stand firm in the traditions they have received and to trust in God’s grace, which strengthens them in every good word and deed. This passage emphasizes the importance of remaining grounded in faith, even when faced with confusion or uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus critiques the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They meticulously observe minor details of the law, such as tithing on mint and dill, but neglect the weightier matters like judgment, mercy, and faith. Jesus points out the absurdity of their focus on outward appearances—cleaning the outside of the cup while leaving the inside filled with greed and impurity. His words remind us that true righteousness begins within. Our actions and practices should flow from a heart that is pure and aligned with God’s will.
Both readings call us to examine our own lives. Are we more concerned with appearances or with living out our faith authentically? Do we focus on the “small stuff” while neglecting the deeper demands of love, mercy, and justice? Let us ask for the grace to stand firm in our faith, to trust in God’s guidance, and to cultivate a purity of heart that shines outward in all we do. May we not be blind guides, straining out gnats while swallowing camels, but rather may we be people of integrity, whose actions reflect the truth of our inner devotion.