Monday, August 27, 2018

 

MONDAY, 21ST Week in Ordinary Time

August 27, 2018 – MONDAY, 21ST Week in Ordinary Time

St. Monica, Widow

Memorial. White.

 

2 Thes 1:1 - 5, 11 - 12 / Mt 23: 13 - 22

 

[National Heroes Day]

Born in Tagaste in northern Africa, St. Monica (331 - 387) prayed for the conversion of her son, St. Augustine of Hippo (354- 430).

 

FROM THE 1ST READING:             2 Thes 1: 3- 5

Brothers and sisters, we should give thanks to God at all times for you. It is fitting to do so, for your faith is growing and your love for one another increasing. We take pride in you among the churches of God because of your endurance and your faith in the midst of persecution and sufferings. In this the last judgment of God may be seen, for you must show yourselves worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are now suffering.

 

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 23: 13- 22

Jesus said, "Therefore, woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow others to do so.

 

"Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel by sea and land to win a single convert, yet once he is converted, you turn him twice as fit for hell as yoursleves.

 

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say: To swear by the Temple is not binding, but to swear by the treasure of the Temple is. Blind fools! Which is worth more? The gold in the Temple or the Temple which makes the gold a sacred treasure "You say: To swear by the altar is not binding, but to swear by the offering on the altar is. How blind you are! Which is of more value? The offering on the altar or the altar which makes the offering sacred? Whoever swears by the altar is swearing by the altar and everything on it. Whoever swears by the Temple is swearing by it and by God who dwells in the Temple. Whoever swears by heaven is swearing by the throne of God and by him who is seated by it."

 

REFLECTION

In THE first reading we can join Paul in thanking God for the faith and love found in the community of the Thessalonians: may such faith and love be found also in our parishes and Christian communities.

 

In the Gospel reading, Jesus chastises the Pharisees and teachers of the Law for their hypocrisy. They were very moralistic in their behavior, especially in their judgment of others; they thought themselves holier than others. Jesus denounces them in very straight and strong language.

 

Today we encounter such hypocrites in our lives. At times we ourselves have also behaved as hypocrites. We can so easily judge and condemn others. We can so often not forgive offences against us. We can so easily be "religious" in showy religious practices.

 

We pray that we may be humble and truthful in the practice and living out of our Christian faith.

 

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST. 

 

BIRTHDAY 

     Luis Chua

     Alethea S. Espiritu

     Hazel Ina Imperial-Tan

     Marilyn Thai

 

Have a good day!

 

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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