First reading 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12
We thank God for your faith and your love
From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We feel we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers; quite rightly, because your faith is growing so wonderfully and the love that you have for one another never stops increasing; and among the churches of God we can take special pride in you for your constancy and faith under all the persecutions and troubles you have to bear. It all shows that God’s judgement is just, and the purpose of it is that you may be found worthy of the kingdom of God; it is for the sake of this that you are suffering now.
Knowing this, we pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm 95(96):1-5
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Proclaim his help day by day,
tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples.
The Lord is great and worthy of praise,
to be feared above all gods;
the gods of the heathens are naught.
Gospel Matthew 23:13-22
Alas for you, blind guides!
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’
____________________________________
Mary, woman of great faith
In today’s gospel, Mary was greatly troubled and frightened by the Angel Gabriel’s words. Like Mary, we too have experienced feeling afraid. Often, we live in fear: fear of losing our loved ones, fear of falling sick, fear of being unemployed, fear of loneliness, etc. Fear is a normal human reaction to the unknown future. However, fear is dangerous when we allow it to live in us and control us. The invitation for us is to live by faith, not fear.
Mary was afraid but did not allow fear to paralyze her in her search to understand God’s will for her. Her faith led her to let God be God and trust His loving purpose for her life. Her response, “Let it happen to me as you have said” conveys her strong faith in God. As we pray with Mother Mary, let us ask Her to help us live by faith, not fear, and to say “Yes” to what God wants from us.
Reflection question:
Do I allow fear to get in the way of trusting God more and allowing Him
to be the God of my life?
Do I allow fear to get in the way of trusting God more and allowing Him
to be the God of my life?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
