August 25

    [media presentation below]

GospelThink

Tuesday, August 25

MATTHEW 23:23-26
The Faults of Religious Leaders

Prayerthoughts

a. Jesus continues his words pointing out the problems that the religious leaders of his time ought to have known. Studying my life right now, are there some problems that I have not addressed?

b. Jesus gives three virtues here: (right) judgment, mercy and fidelity. Which of these is most important for me right now?

c. Jesus calls the religious leaders “blind guides.”  In my life right now, how am I a guide? In what areas should I lead in a better way?

d. Jesus says that inside the religious leaders were full of plunder and self-indulgence. In what areas do I see selfishness in my life right now?

e. Jesus is referring to my thinking as I study this Gospel for me. What is my most important guide for my thinking? I should take the time to pray for holier thinking.  

f. My prayerthoughts... 

  Today, I will read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a,14-17 and write
an important thought from it.

Some Thoughts on the Liturgy

STANDING FIRM IN THE LORD

+ Paul or his disciple, the author of the second letter to the Thessalonians, referring to the fact that many people get agitated over too many things about the parousia or Second Coming

- says to simply “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught,” that is,

- “stand firm in the Lord,” stand firm in the Christian faith

- I believe that that is a very good statement and an understanding of it can help us in our spiritual lives

+ What does “stand firm in the Lord” consist of?

- really, it consists of many things and probably has as many answers as there are religious circumstances

- in the context that it is said here in St. Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians,

- it is a matter of courage in the face of calamities or difficult things

- the Thessalonians were thinking that the end of the world was going to be something to fear

+ Philosophically, to “stand firm in the Lord” takes away the fear given whatever situation

- because the Lord will be there, no matter what the situation

- spiritually, “standing firm in the Lord” means that our religious motivation is correct

- if we stand firm in the Lord, then the Lord is really in charge of our lives

- in terms of the Gospel,

- standing firm in the Lord means that we have made sure that our thinking and our hearts are in the right place

- our insides are clean

+ Externals are important in religion or in forming God to be part of our lives

- that is, formal prayers, fasting, tithing, going to Church, holy water, etc. – measurable things

- but that which is really important is the interior

- the good judgment, mercy, love and fidelity that Jesus talks of in the Gospel

+ Our prayer today is that we “stand firm in the Lord”

- if we do, we have nothing to fear because we will always be doing what the Lord wants.

MEDIA PRESENTATION

Song: "Good News" (Shaboozey)

THERE IS “GOOD NEWS”

Luke 7:18-23

John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? When the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And he said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed in the one takes no offense at me.”

Gospelthink

Jesus gives good news to us.