Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 26, 2024
Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time
26th August 2024 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11b-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. That our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfil every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5 (R. see 3)
R/. Tell among all the people the wonders of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 23:13-22
At that time: Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ’If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anything swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Hypocrisy has become a trademark today in every sphere of life. What is sadder is that it is considered by many as an ability
1. In the gospels, time and again Pharisees and scribes are presented as the brand ambassadors of hypocrisy. Consequently, they come under heavy rebuke by Jesus. Their hypocrisy lies in their incongruent way of life. Their appearance and words look religious but their intentions and motives are contaminated. They preach one thing but practice the opposite.
2. They are blind and unworthy guides. They are blessed with great knowledge and leadership. They must use them as the key to open wide the doors of the kingdom and lead the people inside. Instead, they shut the doors and hinder the people. They twist the teachings to their advantage. Their greatest sin is on both fronts. That is, they themselves do not enter the kingdom and they do not allow others also to enter.
3. Contrary to these hypocritical and inauthentic leaders, we have the Thessalonians in the first reading. Their faith was growing abundantly. Their mutual love was increasing. They demonstrated true faith and steadfastness, enduring all the persecutions and afflictions. Thus, they strove to live worthy of the kingdom of God.
4. This is their merit: they led a life of faith. And by such faithful life, they also led others to faith. They tried to enter the kingdom and also inspired others to enter the same. They conducted themselves to be worthy of the righteous judgment of God, unlike the Pharisees and scribes.
Practice: Where do we stand: Like the loyal Thessalonians or the hypocritical Pharisees and scribes? Do we walk the Lord’s way and lead others too? Or do we also tend to be blind and unworthy guides?
