Daily Readings for August 28, 2019

1st READING 

In today’s reading, Paul mentions to Timothy that much of the work of evangelization is drudgery. Evangelization is needed for the Gospel to take root in a new city. But that does not mean that it is going to be stimulating work. Pastoring and forming people as disciples can be draining work. You could spend months, and at times even years, in forming someone and he may still choose to walk away from the faith.

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

9 You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. 11 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, 12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory. 13 And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

PSALM

Psalm 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12

R: You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

7 Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence where can I flee? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the netherworld, you are present there. (R) 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall guide me, and your right hand hold me fast. (R) 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light”—12 for you darkness itself is not dark, and night shines as the day. (R)

GOSPEL 

St. Augustine led a wild life before his conversion. He had a mistress and even fathered a son with her. And yet, God chooses him to become one of the most influential thinkers and writers in the life of the Church. There are few who have the influence of St. Augustine in presenting the various Church doctrines and teachings of the faith.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

Matthew 23:27-32

27 Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. 28 Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ 31 Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; 32 now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

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