The whole idea of being a Christian is a choice we all made, to follow after Christ Jesus our Lord. It is therefore a choice to be life giving! (not life draining or life taking as those mentioned in today’s Gospel) Even if it means we must renounce ourselves and stand ready to lay down our lives for Him and for one another. It all began when we surrendered ourselves to Jesus, to be transformed from within. Our lives changes when we died with Him and rose to new life in Him by our baptism. That is our victory over sin and temptation!
We have His Word to nurture us and we grow strong in stature, body, mind and Spirit. When we work, we give it our all for Him and for one another. Whether it is in the office, in church or at home. We lift one another’s burdens, never adding to it. For our work as a Christian never ends, for we live and breathe as Children of God our Heavenly Father so loved by Him.
O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose,
grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise,
that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place
where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, (one) God, for ever and ever. Amen
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First reading
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 ·
We slaved night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you
Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.
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Gospel
Matthew 23:27-32
You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers’ day.” So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’
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