＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5, 8b-10

From Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy to the church of Thessalonica which is in God the Father and in Christ Jesus, the Lord.

May the peace and grace of God be with you. We give thanks to God at all times for you and remember you in our prayers.  We constantly recall before God our Father the work of your faith, the labors of your love and your endurance in waiting for Christ Jesus our Lord.

We remember, brothers and sisters, the circumstances of your being called. The gospel we brought you was such not only in words. Miracles, Holy Spirit and plenty of everything were given to you. You also know how we dealt with you for your sake.

 since from you the word of the Lord spread to Mace­donia and Achaia, and still farther. The faith you have in God has become news in so many places that we need say no more about it.  Others tell of how you welcome us and turned from idols to the Lord. For you serve the living and true God,  and you wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who frees us from impending trial.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 23: 13-22

 But woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter it , nor do you allow others to do so.

 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You devour widows’ property; and as a show, you pray long prayers!Therefore, you shall receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel by sea and land to make a single convert, yet once he is converted, you make him twice as fit for hell as yourselves!

Woe to you, blind guides! You say: To swear by the Temple is not binding; but, to swear by the gold of the Tem­ple is binding  foolish men! Blind men! Which is of more worth? The gold in the Temple or the Tem­ple which makes the gold a sacred treasure? You say:  To swear by the altar is not binding, but to swear by the offering on the altar is binding.  

How blind you are! Which is of more value: the offering on the altar or the altar which makes the offering sacred?  Whoever swears by the altar is swearing by the altar and by everything on it. Whoever swears by the Temple is swearing by the temple, and by God who dwells in the Temple. Whoever swears by heaven is swearing by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.

 

Reflection gospel：

“WOE TO YOU,HYPOCRITES.”

We learn of some people who give gifts so that they can exercise certain degree of subtle control or manipulation over others. We learn of people who employ the services of professional “image”-builders to transform themselves attractively before the eyes of the public. We also learn of people, groups, organizations who create situations to deflect attention from real issues; to cover up their agenda and wrong-doings; and even to justify atrocity, killings and war.

Many people think they can get away with it unnoticed. They think people around them do not know their hypocrisy or insincerity. We have experiences of this kind of people who project a pleasing external image far different from what is inside. All the above are tactics intended to deceive others for personal and selfish gain; and, they show up as expressions of hypocrisy.

Sometimes we are able to recognize them, but in some cases they are not easy to detect. That is why, more than ever, to develop a critical thinking is wise. It is wise to subject tings to question(s): Is it true? Is it really the case? Why is it so? Is it really of genuine value?