Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 28, 2018
First Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2.1-3a, 14-17
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Psalm 96
1Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.2Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.4For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.5For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.9Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.11Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it;12let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;13they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.
Gospel: Matthew 23.23-26
23"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of authenticity and steadfastness in our faith. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians cautions us against being deceived by false claims and encourages us to stand firm in the traditions of our faith. It emphasizes the need for resilience and trust in God’s plan, especially when faced with confusion or false teachings. The context of this passage is likely a time of confusion in the early church, where believers were concerned about the timing of Christ’s return. Paul reassures them that they must remain steadfast and not be swayed by false information.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this message by highlighting the importance of inner purity over outward appearances. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, pointing out that while they meticulously observe minor rituals, they neglect the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. He uses the metaphor of cleaning the inside of the cup before the outside, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from within. This passage serves as a reminder to examine our own lives and ensure that our actions align with our faith, rather than just going through the motions.
Together, these readings call us to live authentically and with integrity. In our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in superficial details and lose sight of what truly matters. We are encouraged to focus on justice, mercy, and faith, and to ensure that our inner lives reflect the values we profess outwardly. Let us take a moment to reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves: Are we standing firm in our faith? Are we living with sincerity and integrity? May we strive to be people of true faith, living out our beliefs in every aspect of our lives.