Daily Readings - Tue Aug 27 2024

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

Chapter 23

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

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of living with authenticity and integrity in our faith. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians warns us against being deceived by false claims about the Lord’s return. St. Paul urges the community to stand firm in their traditions and not be swayed by empty words or misleading spirits. This passage emphasizes the need for steadfastness and trust in God’s plan, even when uncertainty or false teachings arise. The context of this letter was a community anxious about the Second Coming, and Paul reassures them that the Lord’s timing is not to be doubted or feared unnecessarily. The Gospel from Matthew complements this message by highlighting the danger of hypocrisy. Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their meticulous observance of minor laws, such as tithing herbs, while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. He compares them to cups cleaned on the outside but filthy within, calling them to first purify their hearts before worrying about outward appearances. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives: are we more concerned with how we look to others, or are we truly living out our faith with sincerity and compassion? Both readings call us to authenticity. In a world filled with distractions and false priorities, we are invited to focus on what truly matters—living with integrity, standing firm in our faith, and cultivating a heart that reflects God’s love. Let us not be like the Pharisees, straining out gnats while swallowing camels. Instead, let us allow God to clean our inner cups, that our actions and intentions may align with His will. In doing so, we become beacons of truth and grace in a world that sorely needs both.