Reading 1 2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12
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 Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5
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.
Alleluia Jn 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 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.”
FAMOUS FAITH
"We thank God unceasingly for you, brothers, because your faith grows apace and your mutual love increases; so much so that in God's communities we can boast of your constancy and your faith in persecution and trial." –2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
The Christian community of Thessalonica was famous for its faith. Paul proclaimed: "Throughout every region your faith in God is celebrated" (1 Thes 1:8). The Lord wants us to have famous faith as well. May your faith be celebrated, imitated, and surpassed by your children and their children's children, until Christ comes again. May your parish church be famous not primarily for its size, budget, activities, creativity, or antiquity, but because of its faith. May your country be famous not so much for its gross national product, technology, military, or creature comforts, but for its faith.
We must have faith, for we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). Moreover, we need as deep a faith as possible (see Mk 9:24). When Jesus comes again, He will be looking for our faith (see Lk 18:8). When we pray at Mass before receiving Holy Communion, we ask the Lord to look at the faith of the Church, including our faith. Jesus is looking and will continue to look. Does He see famous faith?
| PRAYER: | Father, send the Holy Spirit to give me the gift of faith (1 Cor 12:9) and to produce in me the fruit of faith (Gal 5:22). |
| PROMISE: | "We pray for you always that our God may make you worthy of His call, and fulfill by His power every honest intention and work of faith." –2 Thes 1:11 |
| PRAISE: | Mary, a lowly teenage girl, was raised to high places (Lk 1:52) as Queen of heaven and earth. Praise be to God Who rewards His beloved for their service to Him! |
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