Being the Reason for Thanking God

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, August 23rd, 2021
Texts:1Thess. 1:1-5.8b-10; Ps. 49:1b-6a and 9bc; Mtt. 23: 13-22
Today, we are challenged by the life of the people of Thessalonica to be good memory and the reason for thanking God. Can we be remembered for good? Can we be the reason to thank God? St. Paul remembered the Thessalonians for their works of faith, labour of love and steadfastness in hope. He thanked God for making them to bear abundant fruits of faith, love and hope. In the people of Thessalonica we see what we should be: we are to be abound in works of faith, labour of love and steadfastness of hope.
The works of faith are many. It is faith that binds us to God. It is by faith that God we do not see becomes real and His presence affirmed. By faith we turn away from Idol and worship the living God. Prayer is the function of faith. It is in faith that we obey God and keep His commandments, laws, ordinances, statues and commands. It is faith that makes us to praise and bless the name of God. It is by faith that we acknowledge His works and give glory to Him. The labour of love consists of forgiveness of one another, bearing the burden of the weak, enduring suffering for God, making sacrifice for others etc. We are steadfast in hope when we live in waiting for the return of Christ, the judgement day, eternal life and everlasting happiness. Steadfastness in hope manifests in doing things required for the fulfilment of our hope.
We will be the reason for thanking God if we are abound in the works of faith, labour of love and steadfastness in hope. This is made possible by our acceptance of the gospel. Works of faith, labour and steadfastness in hope are fruits of the gospel sown in us. When we bear the fruits of the  graces of faith, hope and love, we will become light to others. St. Paul says, "Your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything." We should live in such a way that our lives show forth our faith, and  there will be no need of talking. The point here is that we are to witness to our faith by our lives. St. Paul lived by example for the people of Thessalonica; what He preached, he expressed in his life.
The pharisees and scribes, in today's gospel reading, are opposite of the people of Thessalonica: they are bad examples and leaders. Jesus Christ called them hypocrites. They were hypocrites because they were not true  to the faith they professed. We are not to be like them. They led people to hell rather than the kingdom of heaven. Their teaching was also corrupt; they emphasised the unimportant and belittled the important. Jesus says, "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing; but if any one swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and he who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it".

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for the gifts of faith, hope and love; help us to bear the fruits accorded to you. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke