The Word today, 21C
- Admin
- Aug 23
- 3 min read
August 25 - August 30, 2025
St Louis; St Joseph of Calasanz, priest
For the next week and half or so, we hear from 1 Thessalonians, the first letter of Paul to come down to us. Evidently Paul had evangelised city of Thessalonica about the year AD 49. He then moved on through Athens to Corinth. In the meantime, the new believers in Thessalonica experienced some kind of oppression or harassment. They contacted Paul and he sent Timothy. The letter is in response to Timothy’s report.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10 We begin reading today from the earliest surviving Christian document, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. Paul had founded this community in Greece and then had to move on. Subsequently, they experienced considerable hardship on account of being believers. Paul writes to reassure them and to answer some questions they sent him.
Matthew 23:13-22 The Jesus of this story is stern, but be careful not to leave it in the past. His teaching is for us today as well.
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 In our first reading today, Paul summarises his great love for the Christians in Thessalonica. It is a striking expression of real emotional dependence— something we might be uncomfortable with today. He brings this section to a conclusion with a prayer that God might allow him to visit them.
Matthew 23:23-26 The temptation is always present to let punctilious observance of the rules takes the place of true religion — “justice, mercy and good faith.” Perhaps it is simply easier?
St Monica, wife and mother
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 It might seem strange to us, but one of the things the Thessalonians resented about Paul was his refusal to take money from them! In a way, he had insulted them, but he defends his motives with great energy.
Matthew 23:27-32 The attack on “show” religion continues fiercely. It is important to try to hear this both in the present and personally. It is much easer to leave it in the past and think of others. The last line is unexpectedly robust!
St Augustine, bishop and doctor
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 In our first reading today, Paul summarises his great love for the Christians in Thessalonica. It is a striking expression of real emotional dependence— something we might be uncomfortable with today. He brings this section to a conclusion with a prayer that God might allow him to visit them.
Matthew 24:42-51 We can sleepwalk through life but luckily life itself has a way of keeping us alert and awake.
The beheading of St John the Baptist
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Ethical issues are always present. How should the Thessalonians behave, so as to distinguish themselves from the surrounding, much more lax culture? The general advice given then is still valuable today.
Mark 6:17-29 The gospel—special for the feast—tells the story of the death of John the Baptist. It is a grisly end for a great prophet, facing death at the whim of his enemy.
St Fiacre, monk
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 In this short reading Paul affirms the Thessalonians before he exhorts them to even better behaviour. The topic— brotherly love—is never, ever out of date.
Matthew 25:14-30 Today’s parable is undoubtedly severe, especially towards the end. The overall message, however, stands: we have all receive graces and gifts—but how do we use them?
References
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025bv, August 24). Twenty-first Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082425.cfm
-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings
Comments