Mass Readings for August 28, 2023

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5,8-10
Psalms 149:1-6,9
Matthew 23:13-22

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5,8-10
(1) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2) We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, (3) remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. (4) We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, (5) and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. (8) For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we need not to say anything. (9) For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, (10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Psalms 149:1-6,9
(1) Praise Yahweh! Sing to Yahweh a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. (2) Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. (3) Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp! (4) For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation. (5) Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds. (6) May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand; (9) to execute on them the written judgment. All his saints have this honor. Praise Yah!

Matthew 23:13-22
(13) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. (14) “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. (15) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves. (16) “Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’ (17) You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? (18) ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’ (19) You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? (20) He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. (21) He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who has been living in it. (22) He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.