Lectionary: 425
Reading 1
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12
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 to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,
as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more,
and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.
Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God
regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions
and the afflictions you endure.
This is evidence of the just judgment of God,
so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God
for which you are suffering.
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5
R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Gospel
Matthew 23:13-22
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You traverse sea and land to make one convert,
and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna
twice as much as yourselves.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say,
‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?
And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,
or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
one who swears by the temple swears by it
and by him who dwells in it;
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: GLORIFY THY NAME
"In this way the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in You." –2 Thessalonians 1:12
I'm looking at the skyline of downtown Cincinnati. Tall buildings display the name of the parent company in lights: Fifth Third Bank, Great American, Kroger, among others. The company name is publicly exalted by these buildings. These buildings are shiny and attractive, qualities which enhance the company name. These companies wouldn't put their name on a rundown, grimy building for fear of disgracing their name.
We are Christians. Accordingly, we bear the name of Jesus. We are "an edifice" that displays the name of Jesus to the world (1 Pt 2:5). As His "buildings" (see 1 Cor 3:16), we want to be shiny and attractive for Jesus (Mt 5:14-16). It's absolutely true that Jesus loves us even when we are rundown and grimy (see Lk 15:16, 20). However, as His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20), we want to publicly exalt and glorify Jesus' holy name by our holy, shiny, joyful lives.
The world is watching you today as you display the name of Jesus. What will they see as they look at you? How is your life glorifying "the name of our Lord Jesus" today? (2 Thes 1:12)
PRAYER: Jesus, "hallowed be Your name" (Mt 6:9). May I daily grow in zeal for Your name.
PROMISE: "Grace and peace be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." –2 Thes 1:2
PRAISE: St. Louis, king of France, was renowned for his concern for the poor and every day invited thirteen of them to eat with him.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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