First Reading - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Gospel - Matthew 23:13-22
In the first reading, we hear about the appreciation of Paul for the Christians in Thessalonica, who accepted Christ and received the gift the Holy Spirit and that turned them from idolatry to the worship of true God. Paul, in his straightforwardness, appreciates their improvement and drastic changes that are reported to him by other Christians. He encourages them to persevere in what they have received and accepted. This is a constructive straightforwardness that promotes and encourages growth where the good efforts are recognized.
The gospel of the day is sprinkled with the "woe" pronouncement of Jesus for Pharisees and Scribes. We hear today out of seven only three 'woes' pronounced by Jesus for Scribes and Pharisees. The woes, as expressed in the gospel, refers to the horror of sins and punishment for those who committed them. The three woes pronounced by Jesus refer to the materialistic approach of the Pharisees and Scribes to the religious practices. They, firstly, shut the kingdom of heaven for the people by keeping people ignorant about the real meaning and purpose of the law that refers to acceptance of Jesus whereby people can enter heaven. Secondly, they proselytize the people by brainwashing and misguiding them to accept circumcision and the mosaic law for the fear of hell. The result of conversion is fear rather than love. Thirdly, misinterpretation of the oath and distortion of greater values for they valued gifts or offerings of people more than the temple itself. Jesus straightforwardly condemns their deviation from spiritual values of religion to mere material gain for their advantage.
My dear friends, being straightforward is not easy because that involves our sincerity and others negativity. This involves challenges because this can cause anger in others as we see with Jesus. The condemnation of Jesus entails the impending punishment for the lives of the Scribes and Pharisees and their misguidance of people due to their wrong preaching and teaching. Jesus is not reluctant to denounce them because that entails a reasonable cause. He does it so that lives of the people may be saved.
We see around us injustice done to people; people are tortured and punished unjustly, can we voice our concern for them as Jesus did? When we do so, we stand for a reasonable cause.
There is another way also where we can be straightforward in a constructive way. It's by appreciating something good that we observe in others or in their works, as St. Paul encouraged Thessalonians by seeing their efforts to progress in their religious piety. Many times we ignore or sideline the good works of people. Let's not forget but encourage them for their efforts and we will spread goodness of people.
May God help us become straightforward in a constructive way.
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