Lectionary: 426
Reading 1
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17
We ask you, brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly,
or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
Let no one deceive you in any way.
To this end he has also called you through our Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm
and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught,
either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
and good hope through his grace,
encourage your hearts and strengthen them
in every good deed and word.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13
R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Gospel
Matthew 23:23-26
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: "I'D WALK A MILE FOR A CAMEL"
"You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!" –Matthew 23:24
Jesus accused the Pharisees of straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel. Elsewhere, Jesus said it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mt 19:24). Both times Jesus used the camel as a means to spotlight a ridiculous lifestyle.
Jesus castigated the Pharisees for traveling many miles to convert a person and then making this person into twice the devil that he previously was (Mt 23:15). Jesus tried to shock them into seeing that this effort is ridiculous. Why travel so far and work so hard to end up swallowing a camel?
People still walk miles to swallow camels today. For example, many ignore their spouse and children, slaving for decades to save money – only to lose their retirement in the stock market or in paying off the nursing home (Hg 1:6). Why spend your life to end up in dissatisfaction? (Is 55:2) Why work so hard to end up in hell? (Lk 12:16-21) It's hard to swallow!
How much better it is to let go and let God! (Ps 46:11) If we seek first the kingdom of God on His terms and let His will be done in us, the Father will provide all we need (Mt 6:32-34). "It is vain for you to rise early, or put off your rest, you that eat hard-earned bread, for He gives to His beloved in sleep" (Ps 127:2).
PRAYER: Father, I will spend the rest of my life devoted to Your will rather than on my own desires (1 Pt 4:2-Share.
PROMISE: "Hold fast to the traditions you received from us, either by our word or by letter." –2 Thes 2:15
PRAISE: When her son was killed by a policeman's bullet, Margaret urged prayer rather than protest.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share
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