Daily Readings - Mon Aug 26 2024
2 Thessalonians
1Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:2Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;4So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:5Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:12That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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 call us to reflect on our faith and our relationship with God. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians is a letter of encouragement and thanksgiving. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy express their gratitude for the growing faith and abundant love of the Thessalonian community. They remind the believers that their endurance of persecutions and tribulations is a sign of God’s just judgment, preparing them for the kingdom of God. The authors pray that God may fulfill His good work in them and that the name of Jesus Christ may be glorified in their lives.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a stark contrast. Jesus addresses the scribes and Pharisees with a series of woes, condemning their hypocrisy. He accuses them of closing the kingdom of heaven to others, exploiting the vulnerable, and prioritizing outward appearances over genuine faith. Jesus critiques their legalistic approach to religion, where they focus on oaths and external rituals rather than the heart of God’s commandments. He calls them blind guides, more concerned with gold and gifts than the sacredness of the temple and the altar.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith and actions. Like the Thessalonians, we are called to endure trials with patience and trust in God’s plan. At the same time, we must avoid the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who prioritized appearances over authenticity. True faith is not about outward displays or legalistic observances but about living with integrity, compassion, and a heart centered on God. Let us strive to be people of genuine faith, enduring life’s challenges with grace and living in a way that reflects the love and justice of Christ.