August 29, 2025 // Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Reflect on the Word //
One of our sons recently came clean to my husband and me about a season in his life where he had been dishonest. Despite our best efforts to help him live in the light, he had been finding ways to break a few family rules and get away with sneaky behavior.
“It feels so much better to not lie,” he sighed, talking about his shift. He felt the relief that comes with doing things the right way.
My son and I ended up talking about rules and obedience, and how sometimes we think being obedient will be boring and restrictive, only to discover this virtue actually offers freedom. Sometimes we trust the rule to keep us from harm; and, other times, we go against what we should do and discover the hard way how it feels to make wrong choices.
In today’s First Reading, Saint Paul, with Silvanus and Timothy, writes to the Thessalonians and encourages them to live with godly behavior: “Brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God—and as you are conducting yourselves—you do so even more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).
We are created to conduct ourselves to please God, to hold ourselves to a high standard, to become like Him through following Christ’s example on earth and obeying His commandments given to us in Scripture and Tradition. We learn a lot of this in our formative years when our parents guide us and teach us right from wrong. And then we spend a lifetime continually striving to do the right thing in our thoughts and actions and behaviors.
God doesn’t create these rules and this standard of godly behavior to make life boring and dull. Conduct that is pleasing to God is not only in our best interest—it sets us free to be fully alive and in union with Christ. We seek the Lord’s voice in any areas of growth He has in store for us, asking Him to guide our feet onto the path of peace.
Relate to the Lord // Have you been dishonest with someone or with the Lord? Let the truth set you free today.
Rachel Balducci has a Masters degree from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia and teaches at Augusta University. She and her husband Paul have five sons and one daughter and are part of an intentional Christian community in Augusta, Georgia. Rachel is the author of several books and is the co-host of The Gist of CatholicTV. Find out more about her here.
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