Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 25, 2021
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2.9-13
9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.13And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
Psalm 139
1O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.2You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.4Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.5You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.11If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.19If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!20They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.21Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?22I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Gospel: Matthew 23.27-32
27"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.29"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.30And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.32Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and the way we live it out. In the first reading from 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul reminds the early Christians of his own example of integrity and hard work. He and his companions preached the Gospel not for personal gain but out of love, working tirelessly to support themselves so as not to burden others. Paul emphasizes that the Word of God they shared was not merely human words but the divine truth that transforms hearts. This passage challenges us to consider the sincerity of our own actions and the way we share our faith with others.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a stark contrast with His critique of the scribes and Pharisees. He condemns their hypocrisy, comparing them to whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled with decay within. Jesus points out their outward show of piety while inwardly they are consumed by pride and injustice. This passage serves as a warning against religious superficiality, reminding us that true faith must penetrate to the heart and transform our lives. The Pharisees, in their pride, fail to recognize their own sinfulness, and Jesus calls them to accountability for their actions.
Together, these readings remind us that faith is not about appearances but about authenticity. St. Paul’s example shows us that living out our faith requires humility, hard work, and a genuine love for others. Jesus’ words, on the other hand, warn us against the danger of hypocrisy—of looking righteous on the outside while neglecting the inner transformation that faith demands. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we living our faith with sincerity and integrity? Do our words and actions reflect the truth of the Gospel, or are we content with outward appearances? May we strive to be people of true faith, allowing the Word of God to take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives.