2nd TUESDAY OF LENT - Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
FIRST READING - Is 1:10, 16-20
"Learn to do good. Make justice your aim."
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
10 [a]Hear the word of the Lord,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!
16 Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil;
17learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
18 Come now, let us set things right,[a]
says the Lord:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson,
they may become white as wool.
19 If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
20 But if you refuse and resist,
you shall be eaten by the sword:
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken!
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 23:1-12
"For they preach but they do not practice."
✠From the Gospel according to Matthew
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 [b]saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens[c] [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 [d]All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 [e]They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 [f]As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
2nd TUESDAY OF LENT - Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
In today's Word of God, God the Father gathers all His children to turn towards God the Father, who is Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Only in Him can humanity find truth and life; only in Him can humanity receive the teaching that truly makes them good.
All that is good is commanded by the Word of God the Father today, listen to the Word of God taught in the Holy Scripture, and put it into practice.
All the scribes and Pharisees in the past also taught good things to people. Similarly, in today's world, the pastors of God's Church also teach the Word of God from the Holy Scripture to people, which is also good and beneficial, and also has an educational power for humanity, so listen and practice it.
But God is the Wise One; He sees through everything, from the inside out, of every scribe and cleric, both today and in the past; God the Father knows exactly what each one is like!
All good and beautiful teachings that bring salvation to the human soul, should be listened to and followed by each person.
Do not imitate the bad habits, sins, passions, desires, arrogance, and power of others, of the scribes, Pharisees, pastors, clerics, or leaders in the Church; do not imitate those bad examples and live according to them, but be vigilant against the call of Satan, their temptations, and Satan's strong allure when they call people to live holy and virtuous lives, to do this and that, so that they may enjoy worldly pleasures, glory, and honor right here on earth.
Be vigilant and withdraw from them, resisting their tempting calls and living in submission to God the Father above all things, as God instructs today.
Be vigilant before the scribes and Pharisees; do not imitate or do what they do, but listen to what they teach!
Here, God the Father wants to emphasize the practice of God's Word, not just speaking in theory with one’s lips and mouth without putting it into practice.
God's Word today also warns superiors and those in authority in the Church, past and present, to live and practice God's Word, and not to speak much without practicing it, for only the practice of God's Word has the power to bring eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven to humanity.
All must give an account before the power and righteousness of God the Father when standing before His judgment seat: between life and death, between soul and body.
Be vigilant against Satan's call, for they tempt humans very cunningly and subtly.
If there is no intimate prayer life united with God, if there is no sacrifice, fasting, prayer, renunciation of one's own will, prideful ego, power, lust, fame, or position, then it is very easy to fall into the depraved temptation brought by Satan.
Today’s Word of God calls upon humanity to love, to sacrifice, to serve, and to give. Fear God and do everything according to God the Father’s Holy Will, practice God's Word and do not just speak with your lips and mouth, or in theory.
It is useless to speak of many good, beautiful things without practicing God's Word; truly, it is difficult to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
Everything that Satan brings is intended to harm the human soul, making humans weak, sinful, proud, and dominant so they cannot practice God's Word.
Only the practice of God's Word has value for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Otherwise, it is merely falling into Satan's trap, falling into hell, eternal death.
Today’s Word of God teaches humanity very thoroughly, bit by bit, every single detail in life.
Do not imitate the dark deeds of others, of superiors, of leaders in the Church.
Practice what is good and live in fear of God, obey Him and follow what the Word of God teaches in daily life: love, forgiveness, sacrifice, fasting, prayer, humbly bowing down to serve your brothers and sisters freely, living gently, simply, and humbling yourself before the glorious majesty of God the Father and your brothers and sisters.
Consider oneself worthless before God and one's brothers and sisters; Consider oneself merely a useless servant working for God the Father, merely a useless servant when serving one's brothers and sisters freely.
God's Word today further teaches humanity to live with love, gentleness, modesty, humility, forgiveness, kindness, faithfulness, fear, and obedience to God the Father in all things.
Do all that God the Father teaches and commands; do not just listen idly and deceive oneself or others, or deceive God.
God sees through from the inside out! God knows all who practice His Word; God the Father also sees all who merely speak idly with their lips and mouth, speaking in theory without practicing, only wanting others to practice.
Therefore, when following the Plan of God the Father, all children of God the Father in this new era, should strive to humble themselves, fear the Lord, worship Him, follow His holy commands, love their brothers and sisters as themselves, and humble themselves to sacrifice and devote themselves to serving their brothers and sisters freely.
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted by God.
All life and evil on this earth belong to God's power; they are all within His mighty hand.
All are within the provident, loving embrace of God the Father; no one can deviate from His holy command, for He sees and comprehends all!
Therefore, one must fear God, do all that God the Father commands, absolutely must not act according to one's own will, must not yield to temptations, lustful desires that Satan brings, and must not yield to temptations of high power, important positions, fame, worldly wealth and material possessions that Satan brings.
All must be wise in choosing according to the holy will of God the Father; whoever lives and acts according to the Word that God the Father teaches, will be granted the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven, for the happiness will be bestowed on those who wisely choose God's holy will and act accordingly.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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