The contrast between the First reading and the Gospel is striking indeed! Steadfast is the faith of our Lord’s disciples in the first reading and as such there is growth and life! Love abounds between them and all gathered round them and their lives are changed because of it. Facing challenges and persecutions only made them more resolute in carrying their cross to follow Jesus. St Paul affirms and reminds them that God’s judgement is just and they have purpose in their sufferings which will find them worthy of the Kingdom of God.
On the other hand in today’s Gospel the scribes and pharisees who are supposed take the lead in showing the way to God’s Kingdom; are far from it themselves. Jesus reminds them that God our Father’s judgement is just and they who are found wanting, stubbornly wicked and unrepentant will be remain forever outside His Kingdom. Just as in Sunday’s Gospel just passed, these will say “Lord, open to us” but He will answer, “I do not know where you come from.”
Find me faithful Lord, for my heart cries out for Your grace and mercy to be upon me each and every day. Amen
Our Lady, Mother and Queen Pray for us….
Readings for the feria (Monday)
First reading
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12 ·
We thank God for your faith and your love
From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We feel we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers; quite rightly, because your faith is growing so wonderfully and the love that you have for one another never stops increasing; and among the churches of God we can take special pride in you for your constancy and faith under all the persecutions and troubles you have to bear. It all shows that God’s judgement is just, and the purpose of it is that you may be found worthy of the kingdom of God; it is for the sake of this that you are suffering now.
Knowing this, we pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Matthew 23:13-22
Alas for you, blind guides!
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’
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