Reflections and Readings for Monday 24 August 2020 

ST BATHOLOMEW 

The only certain fact we know of St Bartholomew is that he was one of the twelve apostles, probably to be identified with Nathaniel, of whom Jesus said, “Here is an Israelite worthy of the name; there is nothing false in him” (John 1:47).  The tradition of the Church is that he journeyed for the gospel into India and Armenia, and in the latter country he was martyred by being flayed alive.

                                                                                                (Saints and Seasons, ACSA) 

Collect for today :

Eternal God

You gave your apostle Saint Batholomew

grace to believe and preach your word;

grant that your Church may love the word which he believed

and faithfully preach and obey it;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen 

2 Thessalonians 1: 1 – 5; 11-12      Psalm 96: 1 – 6           Matthew 23 : 13 – 22 

The Gospel of Matthew and the reading to the Thessalonians seem to be juxtaposed for the point of comparing those who are living a holy life and those who are pretending to. We learn from the readings that the Pharisees are those who say the right things according to God’s word, but fail to act in accordance with it (Matthew 23: 3-4), while the Thessalonians endured suffering and opposition when first following Christ, but did not depart in words and actions from all that Paul had taught them about following Christ. The Thessalonians’ faith became known everywhere because of their faithful actions. 

Jesus minces no words when he speaks to the crowd and his disciples about the scribes and Pharisees. He calls them hypocrites and blind guides over and over. Strong words. Words we all need to hear sometimes. Let’s strip away our own feelings of righteousness, of being better than someone else because of what we have. Let’s strip away those judgmental pronouncements we make about the people around us, pronouncements based on own feelings of privilege and what we think we deserve. 

With these strong words to the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus speaks to all of us. Am I letting my judgment of others, keep me from really looking at myself and my own actions? 

The words of Jesus are a reminder to us that opening my heart is not enough, my actions need to speak Gods love to all. 

The first reading today is a great reminder that although we need to hear truth and that truth can be hard to hear, God loves us. We can also pray what Paul, Silvanus and Timothy say to the church of the Thessalonians: “Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, … unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labour of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father.” This is a good prayer for today, to ask God for the grace and peace, to be full of love, to find God in all things. 

May God bless you in all you do today, and may it be done to the Glory of His name.   Amen