In today’s first reading today and the Gospel, we see the vast contrast. In the Gospel, it begins with Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and the scribes. The first four of the seven woes against the Pharisees and scribes, who insisted on their own pious observances and practices of the law, which often led those who they insisted on following their ways astray from the love of God.
Having just completed a man’s retreat over the weekend, or rather on Saturday, I can relate to the first reading in which St. Paul encourages the brothers that through the power of the Holy Spirit, their lives had been transformed. Just as in the retreat, we were reminded through our own worship, praise, and formation talks, of the great love of God our Father for all of us. The message was clear that He loves us with an everlasting love. He can see our shortcomings and our failings, but He loves us in spite of them. And He has sent His only begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the greatest sign of His love, so that we who are obedient and willing to follow after Him will not only enter into a deep, personal, lasting relationship with Him, but through His grace we shall be fully reconciled.
And so, it is a reminder for all of us to be men and women of God, who brings His light into the world, to share His great love for them, so that all shall come back to Him, especially those who have fallen short. That they may be filled with the Holy Spirit, so metanoia, a change from within takes place, and transforms them into the perfect likeness and image of the Lord our God. Amen
Saint Louis and Saint Joseph of Calasanz, Priest Pray for us…
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First reading
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5,8-10
You broke with idolatry when you were converted to God
From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction. And you observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.
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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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