Daily Readings - Mon Jun 12 2017

First Reading - 2 Corinthians 1.1-7

¹Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy, a brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all of Achaia²Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation⁴He consoles us in all our tribulation, so that we too may be able to console those who are in any kind of distress, through the exhortation by which we also are being exhorted by God⁵For just as the Passion of Christ abounds in us, so also, through Christ, does our consolation abound⁶So, if we are in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation, or if we are in consolation, it is for your consolation, or if we are exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which results in the patient endurance of the same passion which we also endure⁷So may our hope for you be made firm, knowing that, just as you are participants in the suffering, so also shall you be participants in the consolation

Gospel - Matthew 5.1-12

Matthew

Chapter 5

¹Then, seeing the crowds, he ascended the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples drew near to him²and opening his mouth, he taught them, saying³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven⁴Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth⁵Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God¹⁰Blessed are those who endure persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven¹¹Blessed are you when they have slandered you, and persecuted you, and spoken all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake¹²be glad and exult, for your reward in heaven is plentiful. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you

Sermon

In today's readings, we hear powerful messages about hope, consolation, and the transformative power of faith amidst suffering. The first reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that God, the Father of mercies, consoles us in our tribulations so that we, in turn, may console others. Paul shares his own struggles and the struggles of the early Christian community, but he does not leave us in despair. Instead, he points to the hope that comes from sharing in Christ's sufferings and consolation. This passage invites us to see our struggles not as ends in themselves but as opportunities to grow in compassion and to support one another. The Gospel from Matthew presents us with the Beatitudes, a beautiful and counter-cultural vision of what it means to live a life pleasing to God. Jesus blesses those who are poor in spirit, meek, mournful, hungry for justice, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers. He even blesses those who endure persecution for the sake of justice. These Beatitudes challenge us to reevaluate our values and priorities, calling us to embrace humility, kindness, and a commitment to justice, even when it is difficult. They remind us that true happiness and fulfillment come not from worldly success but from living in harmony with God's will. These readings are deeply connected. Both Paul and Jesus teach us that our struggles and hardships are not obstacles to living a meaningful life but are instead opportunities to grow closer to God and to serve others. The Beatitudes show us the attitudes and virtues that should shape our lives, while Paul's letter encourages us to trust in God's plan and to find hope even in the midst of suffering. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How can we embrace the challenges of our own lives with faith and hope? How can we live out the Beatitudes in our daily interactions with others? May we find strength in God's consolation and may we strive to be peacemakers and sources of hope in a world that often seems divided and broken.