Wednesday of week 21 in Ordinary Time – August 30 / 2017
First reading
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it. The word of the Lord!
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 138(139):7-12
Gospel
Matthew 23:27-32
Reflection
One thing this tells us is that Jesus is a man of the utmost honesty. He calls it as it is and does not mix His words. And He does not offer any false compliments or pretend all is fine when it’s not. How about us? Are we able to act with complete honesty? No, it’s not our job to do what Jesus did and to condemn others, but we should learn from Jesus’s actions and apply them to ourselves! Are we ready and willing to look at our own lives and call it as they are? Are we ready and willing to be honest with ourselves and with God about the condition of our souls? The problem is that we often are not. We often just go about pretending all is fine and ignore the “dead men’s bones and every kind of filth” lurking within us. That’s not pretty to see and not easy to admit.
So, again, how about me? Can I take an honest look at my own soul and name what I see? Hopefully I will see goodness and virtue and rejoice in that. But I can be certain I will also see sin. Hopefully not to the extent that the Pharisees had “every kind of filth.” But nonetheless, if we are honest we will see some dirt that needs to be cleaned. Let’s reflect, today, upon how willing we are to 1) honestly name the filth and sin in our lives and, 2) sincerely strive to overcome them. We should not wait until Jesus is pushed to the point of crying out “Woe to us!”
Together we pray: Lord, help me to daily take an honest look at my own life. Help me to see not only the good virtues You have formed within me, but also the filth that is there as a result of my sin. May I seek to be cleansed from that sin so that I can love You more fully. Jesus, I trust in You that You alone will heal our sick brethren and set them free. May the souls of our faithful departed brethren rest in perfect peace, amen.