Daily Readings - Mon Aug 26 2019
1 Thessalonians
1Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.2We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.3We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,5because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.8The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Matthew
13"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.14Verse omitted from the New International Version15"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.16"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?18You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.22And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the integrity of our actions. In the First Reading, Paul commends the Thessalonians for their vibrant faith and their role in spreading the Gospel, despite facing persecution. Their commitment is a testament to the transformative power of genuine belief. In contrast, the Gospel presents Jesus criticizing the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, highlighting the disconnect between their outward actions and inner sincerity. Jesus emphasizes that true faith is not about external rituals but about living with integrity and compassion.
The Thessalonians' example shows that genuine faith leads to endurance, love, and a desire to share the Good News. Their actions were a natural response to God's grace, inspiring others and spreading the Word beyond their community. Conversely, the Pharisees' hypocrisy, as Jesus points out, stems from a focus on appearances rather than a heartfelt commitment to God's will. Their actions, such as exploiting widows and using oaths to manipulate, reveal a corruption of true religious practice.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own faith and actions. Are we living with the sincerity and love that Paul praises in the Thessalonians, or are we falling into the trap of hypocrisy that Jesus condemns? Let us strive to live with integrity, ensuring our actions reflect our beliefs. By doing so, we become beacons of God's love, spreading the Gospel through our genuine and compassionate lives.