In the first reading, the writer of the letter gives thanks to God for the Thessalonians because they are growing in faith in God and their love for one another is increasing. This is more so because the Thessalonians have remained steadfast and faithful in the face of persecutions. The writer assures his readers that their suffering will not be in vain. On the day of judgement, God will reward their present faithfulness with future glorification in Christ Jesus.

In contrast, the Gospel passage describes how Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees by pronouncing six ‘woes' upon them. In Jewish tradition, pronouncing a ‘woe' upon someone or a group is an expression of grief or sadness at the poor state of their lives and the very bad consequences that will follow.

Among the woes is included the accusation that the scribes and Pharisees are preventing people from entering God's kingdom, harming the spiritual lives of converts to Judaism, shifting the oaths from sacred things to less important things, neglecting the most urgent concerns of the law, and being concerned about the externals rather than interior change. Jesus warns them that their actions will have negative implications in the future.

Perhaps, today is a good time to ask ourselves. Do we bring people closer to God or hinder them from doing so?