"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter." (Mt 23:13)
READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the Second Letter to the Thessalonians
2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 23:13-22
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.
“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.
“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.’
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?
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.’
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,
or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
one who swears by the temple swears by it
and by him who dwells in it;
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it.”
MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Mt 23:13-22
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
The Word of God for Everyone
Dear People of God,
The Word of God for today is for the good shepherds of God.
God has given His grace to shepherds so that they can distribute and give it to the flock. That grace is the spiritual life, helping people to know how to live in close union with God, to know how to live according to His commandments, and to help people also enjoy the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven with God the Father. Therefore, God will judge His shepherds in every detail with their actions, their behavior, and their responsibility towards each soul of the sheep that God has entrusted to them.
The Word of God in today's Gospel warns shepherds in advance: Woe to those who prevent souls from coming to God, prevent them from living in love, charity and giving. And He also says Woe to you who set bad examples. He also says many other woes to shepherds who do not live according to God's teachings, do not take care of and fulfill the duties and responsibilities in the role of shepherd that God has given them, which are: caring for the wounded flock, searching for lost sheep, chasing away wolves. God the Father will be very strict with shepherds, because as He said: to whom much is given, much will be required. God's words: 'woe', show that God's judgment on the shepherds is severe and strict: when the shepherds cause the souls of His children to fall into sin and displease God, when they cause the souls of the sheep to distance themselves from God, when the shepherds do not open the door, do not lead the way to bring the souls of the sheep to God's love. These are the things that God warns the shepherds to know in advance to avoid, to be vigilant to their mistakes.
Therefore, in today's Word of God, God invites all His shepherds to live and follow God's commandments, and to fulfill their duties as a good shepherd:
- Always know how to love and care for the flock that God has given.
- Lead the lost sheep back to God, and wholeheartedly care for the sheep who need His mercy.
- Do not retreat, do not abandon the sheep who are being harassed and imprisoned by Satan.
- Be courageous in fighting Satan so that they will leave the flock. This is so that souls can be at peace in the loving arms of shepherds who bear the image of Jesus, without worry or fear.
- Follow the example of Jesus Christ, sacrificing yourself to save the flock, when the fierce wolves threaten God's sheep.
That is the call that God gives to all the shepherds of God the Father, to be truly good shepherds like Jesus the Good Shepherd.
Today, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, God reminds His shepherds: to come and see the work of God the Father in Bao Loc, where God the Father will show you how immense His love and mercy is, where you will find green pastures for your flock, find cool springs for your sheep to drink.
But woe to the pastors who oppose this work and forbid their flocks to come and draw from the source of the grace of the Holy Spirit that is poured out here, that is, the grace of conversion, the grace of faith and the grace of healing. Shepherds who do not live the teachings of God the Father, but instead prevent their sheep, it will truly be unfortunate for that shepherd.
God the Father calls on the shepherds who are living in the blindness of Satan, to wake up and stand up, to return to the loving arms of God the Father, always open to welcoming them.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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