Daily Readings - Tue Aug 27 2024
2 Thessalonians
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
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 living with authenticity and integrity in our faith. The first reading from 2 Thessalonians warns us against being deceived by false claims about the Lord’s return. St. Paul urges the community to stand firm in their traditions and not be swayed by empty words or misleading spirits. This passage emphasizes the need for steadfastness and trust in God’s plan, even when uncertainty or false teachings arise. The context of this letter was a community anxious about the Second Coming, and Paul reassures them that the Lord’s timing is not to be doubted or feared unnecessarily.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this message by highlighting the danger of hypocrisy. Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their meticulous observance of minor laws, such as tithing herbs, while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. He compares them to cups cleaned on the outside but filthy within, calling them to first purify their hearts before worrying about outward appearances. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives: are we more concerned with how we look to others, or are we truly living out our faith with sincerity and compassion?
Both readings call us to authenticity. In a world filled with distractions and false priorities, we are invited to focus on what truly matters—living with integrity, standing firm in our faith, and cultivating a heart that reflects God’s love. Let us not be like the Pharisees, straining out gnats while swallowing camels. Instead, let us allow God to clean our inner cups, that our actions and intentions may align with His will. In doing so, we become beacons of truth and grace in a world that sorely needs both.