The Lord comes to judge the earth. — Psalm 96:13

Mass Readings: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17 / Matthew 23:23-26 

Inside and Out 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns the scribes and Pharisees not to be concerned simply with outwards appearances of doing good, but to focus on the inward reality of following God. Blessed Mother Teresa once said, “God has not called us to be successful. He has called us to be faithful.” God cares most about who we are and not so much about how we appear to others. 

God calls us to fidelity in our external behavior but most of all God calls us to inner fidelity. What we choose to think about, what we set our hearts upon, these things are important in themselves and also ultimately guide our external behavior. God loves us so much that He wants our happiness to be not merely about what is outside but more importantly what is inside. 

Prayer: Dear God, make me Your friend, in what others see and in what they don’t see.