First Reading (2 Thess 2:1-3a, 14-17).
Beginning of the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our union with him, we urge you, brothers, not to be easily troubled or alarmed by any revelation or letter attributed to us, which claims that the day of the Lord is near. Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. God has called you so that through our gospel you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold firmly to the traditions that we taught you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who by his grace loved us and gave us eternal comfort and a good hope, encourage your hearts and establish you in every good deed and word.
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Matthew 23:23-26).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and fennel and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law, such as justice and mercy and faithfulness. You ought to have practiced these things, but you have not neglected the other. You blind guides! You strain out the gnat but swallow the camel. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and greed. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may be clean as well.” — Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine yourself in an old house, filled with objects accumulated over decades. There is beauty in this house, no doubt—exquisitely carved antique furniture, family pictures on the walls, precious mementos in every corner. But there is also dust. Lots of dust. And while the residents pride themselves on keeping the facade impeccable, the dark corners and closed cabinets tell a different story of neglect and carelessness.
This image, my beloved, is not so far from the spiritual condition that Jesus addresses in today’s Gospel, nor from the challenges that Paul faces in his letter to the Thessalonians.
In Matthew 23, we see Jesus directly confronting the scribes and Pharisees. He says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness!” What a powerful indictment! Jesus is not condemning careful observance of the law—tithing even the smallest herbs was, in fact, a demonstration of devotion. The problem was that this outward meticulousness masked a profound neglect of the more essential virtues. It is as if Jesus were saying, “You are so busy polishing the facade that you have forgotten to clean the inside of the house.” Justice, mercy, and faithfulness—these are the cornerstones of a life truly dedicated to God. Without them, all our outward piety becomes an empty shell, a performance without substance. Jesus continues with a vivid metaphor: “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” What a hilarious and disturbing image! Imagine someone so obsessed with removing the tiniest bug from their drink that they don’t realize they’re swallowing a huge animal! It’s a perfect portrayal of how we can become so focused on insignificant details that we completely lose sight of the bigger picture.
And then Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter: “You blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside of the cup may be clean also.” This is a call to authenticity, to integrity. It’s not enough to look good on the outside; we need to be transformed on the inside.
But how do we achieve this inner cleansing? How do we avoid falling into the trap of self-righteousness, of superficial religiosity? This is where Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians offers us valuable insight.
Paul is writing to a community troubled by rumors and false doctrines. There is confusion about the second coming of Christ, anxiety about the end times. In the midst of this turmoil, Paul offers words of encouragement and guidance.
He says, “Do not be easily shaken or alarmed by every revelation…or letter supposedly from us.” Paul is essentially saying, “Keep calm. Don’t be carried away by every new idea or theory that comes along.”
In a world awash with information, fake news, and conspiracy theories, this advice is more relevant than ever. How often do we let ourselves be shaken by rumors, alarmed by the latest sensational headlines, or lost in speculation about the future? Paul calls us to a grounded faith, not easily shaken by the storms of public opinion or collective panic.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He reminds the Thessalonians—and us—of the foundation of our faith: “God called you to this through our gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What a powerful statement! Our call is not to fear, nor to anxiety, nor to superficial religiosity. We are called to the glory of Christ!
And how do we respond to this call? Paul gives us the key: “Stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught.” There is profound wisdom here. The traditions of faith—not the empty traditions that Jesus criticized, but the true apostolic traditions—are like anchors that keep us steady in turbulent times.
But notice that Paul is not talking about blind adherence to tradition. He immediately connects this steadfastness with the direct action of God in our lives: “Now may Christ Jesus our Lord himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.”
Here is the secret to avoiding both self-righteousness and panic: anchoring ourselves in the love of God, in the comfort of Christ, in the hope that comes by grace. It is this love, this comfort, this hope that cleanses the inside of the cup, that transforms our hearts.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, what do we do with these readings today? How do we apply these truths to our lives?
First, let us do an honest examination of conscience. Where in our lives are we “straining out gnats and swallowing camels”? Where is our outward religiosity masking an inward neglect? Let us ask God to show us these areas and give us the courage to confront them.
Second, let us renew our commitment to the essential virtues Jesus mentions: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. How can we more deeply incorporate these qualities into our daily lives? Maybe it’s by standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly at work. Or by showing mercy to a family member who has hurt us. Or by being faithful to our promises, even when it’s hard.
Third, let us anchor ourselves in the fundamental truths of our faith. In a world of uncertainty and constant change, let us always return to God’s unchanging love, to the redemptive work of Christ, to the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. Let these truths be our solid rock.
Fourth, let us seek that inner cleansing that only Christ can give. Through prayer, meditation on the Word, and the sacraments, let us allow God to transform not only our outward actions but also our hearts and minds.
Finally, let us live in the hope and comfort that Paul mentions. Not a naive hope that ignores the problems of the world, but a resilient hope grounded in God’s faithfulness. A hope that enables us to face life’s challenges with courage and confidence.
May we, by God’s grace, avoid both the trap of self-righteousness and the panic of uncertainty. May our lives be marked by deep authenticity, unwavering faith, and active love. May we be cleansed inside and out, truly reflecting the glory of Christ to a world that desperately needs His light.
And may the God of all comfort, who has called us to His eternal glory, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. Amen.
