Do you look sweet and shiny on the outside? Do you exude holiness from the inner sanctum of your heart or is it just for display?
Many even if they belong to a community are broken inside. Some carry wounds that have not healed, some are struggling with finances, family challenges. Some live with guilt for their past sins and may have stopped going to mass. Others have chosen to believe what they want about the Church and the sacraments, instead of abiding in the word and traditions of Holy mother Church.
Holiness and the goodness that flows from God comes from deep within. It illumines body, mind and soul. It is a light that glows on the inside and shines through on the outside. Such that the beauty of the person of God is not only clearly seen but felt.
All this is possible with our Christ. So come now it is time to go to our Lord Jesus Christ with all your brokenness, sins, pride, pains, struggles and sorrows. He is waiting to embrace, heal and strengthen you. Receive the Holy sacraments for which His grace is outpoured. Be one with Him as you are one with His church. Amen
St Augustine pray for us…
First reading
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17
Stand firm and keep the traditions we have taught you
To turn, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived. Never let anyone deceive you in this way.
It cannot happen until the Great Revolt has taken place and the Rebel, the Lost One, has appeared. Through the Good News that we brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm, then, brothers, and keep the traditions that we taught you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace, such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.
Gospel
Matthew 23:23-26
Clean the inside of the cup first, so that the outside may become clean
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, good faith! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. You blind guides! Straining out gnats and swallowing camels!
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.’
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