Today, August 26
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Readings of the Day
Second Letter to the Thessalonians 3,6-10.16-18.
We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Psalms 128(127),1-2.4-5.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 23,27-32.
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. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.' Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!"
Daily Reflection
“Rend your hearts and not your garments,” the prophet says (Jl 2,14). Who is there among you whose will is particularly subject to obstinacy? Let him rend his heart with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6,17). Let him rend it and reduce it to dust for we can only be converted to the Lord if we have a contrite heart (Ps 51[50],19)... Listen to someone whom God has found according to his heart: “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready” (Ps 57[56],8). It is ready for adversity, ready for prosperity; it is ready for humble things, ready for those that are lifted high, ready for whatever you command... “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.” Who, like David, is ready to go out and come back and walk according to the King's will? (2Sm 5,2).