Tags
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 8-10, Faith, Mass, Mt 23:13-22, Talk the Walk, Virtue, Walk the Talk
In today’s first reading, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10, St. Paul and company praise the Thessalonians for not only proclaiming the gospel to people in other cities and cultures, but for living lives of virtue that exemplify their faith. This contrasts with today’s gospel, Mt 23:13-22, in which Jesus castigates the Pharisees and Scribes for their hypocrisy, for saying one thing and doing another, thus leading the people down a path of confusion that replaced worship of God with worshipping God’s gifts.
As faithful of Christians that we are, we can too easily fall into the same trap as the Pharisees and Scribes. We can be seen going to church every Sunday, sitting in the pews and following the rubrics, yet let distractions keep us from fully participating in the Mass with our inner eye on the sacrifice that is taking place in front of us – the real reason we are there. But, even if our full attention is focused on Jesus during the Mass, we may live separate and disconnected lives once we walk out the doors. Or, we may do all the right things and live virtuous lives, but still fail to proclaim our faith in words.
If we are to truly live our faith and spread the gospel as Jesus instructed us, we should endeavor to connect all the pieces together: what others see in us and what they hear from us. We need to walk the talk and talk the walk like the Thessalonians. We could ask ourselves, “If St. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were observing me today, could they say the same about me as they did to the Thessalonians? Have my actions become such a rote habit that I’ve lost the real meaning of Mass and purpose for worship, that is, to not only receive the Gift, but to worship the Giver of the Gift? Am I experiencing the joy and thanksgiving in my faith that is necessary for others to want some of what I have? Am I loving my ‘neighbor’ and desiring their good by helping them establish a relationship with the One Who truly loves them for who they are?”
Maybe take a few moments and spend time with Jesus in prayer, asking Him what He thinks you can do to be more like the Thessalonians.
“Heavenly Father, today’s Psalm reminds me to sing songs of praise of You, the One Who loves me and takes delight in me, Your creation. May I never forget the sacrifice of love You made for me. Help me, Lord, to walk the talk and talk the walk so that others may come to praise you as well. Amen.”
(Be Like the Thessalonians was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)
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