Daily Readings - Wed Aug 25 2021
1 Thessalonians
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.
Matthew
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.