Daily Readings - Tue Aug 28 2018

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.

Matthew

Chapter 23

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.