2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12
Matthew 23:13-22
In the midst of a day in which the Church celebrates the Lord crowning his mother as queen of heaven and earth, we hear in today’s Gospel passage, the beginning of Jesus proclaiming “woes” to the scribes and the Pharisees for being hypocrites in their roles as leaders preferring the material things than the one who created them.
Jesus points out to them that what they value is not what is important. I see this as a challenge to us too because it is easy to bring the values of the world in to the practice of our faith forgetting who they represent.
Sometimes, we justify a desire for a greater accumulation of material wealth and possessions for future purposes. As Christians, we are called not to let worldly values influence how we live our faith but to let our faith influence how things are done in the world.
Wherever we are, whether we are single or married, religious or ordained, young or old and as we do our jobs, or seek employment, or attend courses, or live out our retirement, we are to demonstrate forgiveness and mercy and compassion. We are to love others as Jesus has loved us. Our trust is not in “gold” nor “gifts,” but in the God who has blessed us and given us the promise of everlasting life!
As we celebrate the aueenship of our mother Mary we pray that God will set us free from the yokes and woes of sin and one day merit to share at the end the joys of paradise.
Credit:
This article is written by Rev Fr. Joseph Osho OSJ. Please visit his personal blog @ https://www.blogger.com/profile/10377666931103644634
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