💖 HOMILY - AUGUST 26 💖

First Reading - 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12 

Gospel - Matthew 23:13-22

Being straightforward is a gift. Being straightforward can help in a constructive manner because it can highlight the pros and cons of actions. The readings of the day invite us to be straightforward for a reasonable cause in a constructive way.

In the first reading, we hear about Paul’s appreciation for the Christians in Thessalonica, who accepted Christ and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which turned them from idolatry to the worship of the true God. Paul, in his straightforwardness, appreciates their improvement and the drastic changes that are reported to him by other Christians. He encourages them to persevere in the faith that they have received and accepted. This is a constructive straightforwardness that promotes and encourages growth where good efforts or works are recognized.

The gospel of the day is sprinkled with the "woe" pronouncements of Jesus for the Pharisees and scribes. We hear today, out of seven, only three 'woes' pronounced by Jesus for the scribes and Pharisees. The woes, as expressed in the gospel, refer to the horror of sins and punishments. The three woes pronounced by Jesus refer to the materialistic approach of the Pharisees and scribes in their religious practices. First, they shut the kingdom of heaven for the people by keeping them ignorant about the real meaning and purpose of the law, which refers to the acceptance of Jesus, whereby people can enter heaven. Second, they proselytize people by brainwashing and misguiding them to accept circumcision and the Mosaic law out of fear of hell. The result of this conversion is fear rather than love. Third, they misinterpret the oath and distort greater values, for they value gifts or offerings from people more than the temple itself. Jesus straightforwardly condemns their deviation from the spiritual values of religion to mere material gain for their advantage.

My dear friends, being straightforward is not easy because it involves our sincerity and the negativity of others. This involves challenges because it can cause anger in others, as we see in the case of Jesus in relation to the Pharisees and scribes. The condemnation of Jesus entails impending punishment for the scribes and Pharisees because of their unruly lives and their misguidance of people through their wrong preaching and teaching. Jesus is not reluctant to denounce them because that entails a reasonable cause. He does it so that the lives of the people may be saved. We also see injustice done to people around us; 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 in which 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 the Thessalonians by recognizing their efforts to progress in their religious piety. Many times we ignore or sideline the good works of people. Let's not forget but rather encourage them for their efforts, and we will spread the goodness of people.

May God help us become straightforward in a constructive way.