Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 23: 27-32
August 27, 2025 | Wednesday

Today’s Gospel

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful in appearance; but, inside, there are only dead bones and uncleanness. In the same way, you appear religious to others, but you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness within.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets, and decorate the monuments of the righteous. You say: Had we lived in the time of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets. So, you, yourselves, confess to be the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. And now, finish off what your ancestors began.

Today’s Reflection

Today, the Augustinian Family celebrates the feast day of Saint Monnica, the mother of Saint Augustine. Augustine’s Book of Confessions tells us that Monnica prayed for the conversion of her husband and son. The rest is history, and we have the Augustine that we know in posterity, partly because of that. In the Dialogues of Augustine, he represents his mother as the epitome and symbol of the Church. Whenever the interlocutors could not give a better opinion in the debate, Augustine would plug in his mother to be the spokesperson for the position of the Church.

In the first reading, Paul continues his exhortation and encouragement by describing the toils he and his companions have undergone to proclaim the good news to them, which the people of Thessalonica received from them “not as words of men but as word coming from God.” Of course, he continues his encouragement to them not to lose sight of the promise and hope of the Kingdom. Besides, defending himself from the charges that he had neglected them. For he earned for himself and did not rely on the subsistence given by the churches he founded. Rather, when Paul urges them to contribute, it is for the needs of the other churches, knocking for their generous hearts to help. Christians should be the first to show charity, and by helping other local churches, they exemplify the charity of Christ shown to them.

The “last of two the woes” of Jesus, addressed not only to the Scribes and Pharisees but also to us, who purport to follow Christ. He is against the hypocrisy that we make in our double-standard lives. We are so engrossed with legalities and other things that are not essential to living a good Christian life. We tend to forget the needs of brothers and sisters, especially their well- being if not for the salvation of their, and of course, our souls.

/Vulnerasti, 2025