Daily Reflection – Aug 23, 2016
Tuesday 23 August 2016
First Reading:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17
Responsorial Psalm:
The Lord comes to judge the earth
Psalm 95(96):10-13
Gospel Reading: Matthew 23:23-26
Today’s Saint: St Rose of Lima (Optional Memorial)
Gospel Reading:
Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”
Reflection:
In matters concerning the Coming of Christ at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, it sometimes seems that people with a certain mindset have learned nothing since the time of St Paul. About a year ago, an American preacher asserted that the world would end on a certain day and then had to revise his date and finally admit he was totally wrong.
We Catholics, in particular, have no need to be disturbed by such nonsense. We have Paul’s teaching on the matter, but more importantly we have Jesus’ own teaching: “I am with you always, until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:20). Towards the beginning of his Gospel, Matthew 1:23 tells us that the Messiah will be Emmanuel (God with us) and Jesus’ final words repeat that promise.
At the Last Supper, when he was about to face death and so return to the Father, Jesus still desired to be with us in our journey through life. As a human being, he could not live for ever, but out of his infinite love for us he gave us the sacrament of his body and blood.
“Lord Jesus, You warned us not to be misled by false rumours. Strengthen our faith that we may enjoy ever more profoundly Your presence with us in the Church and in the Eucharist.”
