Daily Readings for August 27, 2018

1st READING

In today’s reading, Paul first mentions that he is always praying for the Thessalonian community. Intercession — praying for others or for a particular outcome to an event — is important. Through intercession, we can present to God our concerns. Sometimes we set aside prayer because we think He is too busy, or we think our issue is not important enough for His attention. Remember that God wants to be involved in our lives. Second, Paul mentions enduring persecution. Let us pray for the grace to endure the inevitable persecutions that we will face as Christians.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith  flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater. 4 Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure. 5 This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you are suffering. 11 We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

P S A L M 

Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 4-5

R: Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. 2 Sing to the Lord; bless his name. (R) Announce his salvation, day after day. 3 Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (R) 4 For great is the Lord and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the Lord made the heavens. (R)

GOSPEL 

To avoid the condemnations of Jesus, we must follow the Gospel faithfully. Let us strive to remain faithful to His teachings and live them daily. Christians are persecuted more and more in the world today. The way we can withstand the battering is by coming together — in unity and strength.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me. 

Matthew 23:13-22

13 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. [14] 14 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. 16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ 17 Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’ 19 You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; 21 one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; 22 one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.”