How do you treat others?

August 26, 2025 – Tuesday of the 21^st Week in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082625.cfm)

How do you treat others? What kind of attitude do you show to your friends and strangers alike? Does your faith influence your ways and attitudes in relating with others?

St. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians expressed his gentleness, kindness as well as his thoughtfulness and affection towards the Christian Community in Thessalonica. Paul wrote this letter not to boast himself of what he had done, but an expression of Paul’s faith and conviction as an apostle.

“God is witness.” This is what Paul declared as he manifested that there was no intention to be praised or to become greedy in their relationship with the people. In fact, Paul expressed the joy and generosity in his heart as he too declared, “With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.”

This tells us that sharing of the self is an expression of the Christian Faith. When we become a gift to people around us, we too proclaim Christ in us.

Yet, when the self also turns to be corrupt and self-absorbed, entitled and plunderous, the self becomes toxic and a curse to people around us.

Jesus pointed this out in our Gospel today. The words of Jesus were quite strong in criticizing such kind of persons. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.” Jesus said this twice in the Gospel verses today showing the severity of the selfishness and greedy hearts of these people.

“Plunder and self-indulgence” made such persons to be numbed at the realities of suffering of the people around them. They were concerned only on how they will become more comfortable and advance their self-interest. The self turns inward. It does not know how to share and so it is removed from what joy and love truly are.

Such kind of self and attitudes of the heart make us treat others harshly and sometimes violently. We could treat others indifferently especially when we don’t get or receive anything from them.

Having such contrasting attitudes of the self, calls us now towards the transformation of ourselves. Like Paul, who at first was also filled with bitterness and hatred was transformed by the grace of Christ.

We ask today that grace that our heart and person may also be transformed. Knowing that the Lord has searched us and knew us, as the Responsorial Psalm proclaims, may we be more daring and courageous enough to ask the grace of the Lord.

And so we pray, “Lord, make my heart as well as my words and actions gentle, kind and generous. Through your grace, may I become a gift to my friends and community as an expression of my faith in You.” Hinaut pa.