DAILY- HOMILY

August 25, 2015 TUESDAY, 21st Week in Ordinary Time 

St. Louis of France; 

St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest     

Green      

1 Thes 2:1 – 8 / Mt 23:23 - 26

[St. Louis (1214 – 1270) was King of France and the father  of eleven children.]

[St. Joseph Calasanz (1557 – 1648), a Spaniard, founded the Piarists, dedicated to the education of poor children.]

Reading: 1 Thes 2:4 – 8

     But as God had entrusted his Gospel to us as to faithful ministers, we were anxious to please God who sees the heart, rather than human beings. We never pleased you with flattery, as you know, nor did we try to earn money, as God knows. We did not try to make a name for ourselves among people, either with you or anybody else, although we were messengers of Christ and could have made our weight felt.

     On the contrary, we were gentle with you, as a nursing mother who feeds and cuddles her baby. And so great is our concern that we are ready to give you, as well as the Gospel, even our very lives, for you have become very dear to us.

Gospel:  Mt 23:23 - 26           

     Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You do not forget the mint, anise and cumin seeds when you pay the tenth of everything, but then you forget what is most fundamental in the Law: justice, mercy and faith. These you must practice, without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a mosquito, but swallow a camel.

     "Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You fill the plate and the cup with theft and violence, and then pronounce a blessing over them. Blind Pharisee! Purify the inside first, then the outside too will be purified."

Reflection:

     "Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You do not forget the mint, anise and cumin seeds when you pay the tenth of everything, but then forget what is most fundamental in the Law: justice, mercy and faith. . . .  Blind guides! You strain out a mosquito, but swallow a camel. . .  Blind Pharisee! Purify the inside first, then the outside too will be purified."

     In the Gospel reading today, our Lord lashes out in very strong words against the dishonesty, blindness and hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the leaders of the Law who outwardly observe the Law and yet "forget what is most fundamental in the Law: justice, mercy and faith." "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." (Mt 23: 13)

     This is in sharp contrast to the love and tenderness of St. Paul in the establishment of the Church of Thessalonica: "we were gentle with you, as a nursing mother who feeds and cuddles her baby. And so great is our concern that we are ready to give you, as well as the Gospel, even our very lives, for you have become very dear to us."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     JUANITA TEMEW

     LEO ABOT

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     ROWENA OCAMPO-YAO

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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