Monday of week 21 in Ordinary Time – August 27 / 2017
First reading
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5,8-10
From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace. We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ. We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction. And you observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming. The word of the Lord!
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 149:1-6,9Gospel
Matthew 23:13-22
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to. ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are. ‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’ The gospel of the Lord!
Who is a blind guide? Are you a blind guide? Do you win people over to a serve a greater cause only to mislead them by your very actions? Do you make it difficult for people to chose to follow God by your actions? A guide is a person who shows the way to others. So how does a blind man show the way to others? A guide is meant to lead you to achieving life goals; to attain heaven. However, a blind guide would definitely send you into a pit.
Jesus calls the scribes and pharisees hypocrites and accuses them for a number of things, chiefly, for making heaven difficult for believers. Jesus berates anyone who through his or her directions, advice or actions has made children, wards, friends or neighbours fit for hell.
So what is the way out. Jesus states in John 14:6 that he is “the Way the Truth and the Life” and advises all to “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”. Jesus invites us to lay down our burden of law and sin; he assures us or peace. He is sure to guide you to life achieve life goals and lead you to heaven.
Prayer
Heavenly Lord, I thank you for this wonderful week, be my guide and lead me to achieve all my goals and ultimately towards attaining heavenly blessings. I depend on you to positively guide all you have placed in my care, in Jesus name I pray, amen!