Daily Readings - Mon Jun 19 2017

First Reading - 2 Corinthians 6.1-10

¹But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain²For he says: "In a favorable time, I heeded you; and on the day of salvation, I helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation³May we never give offense to anyone, so that our ministry may not be disparaged⁴But in all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God with great patience: through tribulation, difficulties, and distress⁵despite wounds, imprisonment, and rebellion; with hard work, vigilance, and fasting⁶by chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering; in pleasantness, in the Holy Spirit, and in unfeigned charity⁷with the Word of truth, with the power of God, and with the armor of justice to the right and to the left⁸through honor and dishonor, despite good reports and bad, whether seen as deceivers or truth-tellers, whether ignored or acknowledged⁹as if dying and yet truly alive; as if chastised and yet not subdued¹⁰as if sorrowful and yet always rejoicing; as if needy and yet enriching many; as if having nothing and possessing everything

Gospel - Matthew 5.38-42

Matthew

Chapter 5

³⁸You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.³⁹But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone will have struck you on your right cheek, offer to him the other also⁴⁰And anyone who wishes to contend with you in judgment, and to take away your tunic, release to him your cloak also⁴¹And whoever will have compelled you for one thousand steps, go with him even for two thousand steps⁴²Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are presented with powerful teachings on how to respond to life’s challenges with grace and love. The First Reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that as ministers of God, we are called to endure hardships with patience and trust in His providence. Paul lists various trials—tribulation, imprisonment, rebellion—and encourages us to face them with patience, kindness, and truth. The Gospel from Matthew takes this a step further, as Jesus teaches us to go beyond merely enduring suffering. He calls us to respond actively with love and generosity, even to those who wrong us. Jesus’ teaching to turn the other cheek and to give freely challenges us to move beyond the natural human instinct of retaliation and instead to embrace a higher standard of love and forgiveness. The context of these readings is crucial. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, is urging them not to take God’s grace for granted and to live in a way that reflects their faith. He emphasizes that our actions should always be guided by love and patience, even in the face of adversity. In the Gospel, Jesus is teaching His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount, where He is setting forth the values of the Kingdom of God. These values often stand in contrast to the world’s way of responding to evil with more evil. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not just about belief but about how we live out that belief in our daily lives. Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to reflect on how we respond to challenges and conflicts. Do we allow anger or resentment to guide our actions, or do we choose to respond with patience and kindness? When someone wrongs us, do we seek revenge, or do we offer forgiveness? When someone is in need, do we turn away, or do we give generously? These are not easy questions, but they are at the heart of living as disciples of Christ. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith is tested not in times of comfort but in times of difficulty. By enduring hardship with patience and responding to evil with love, we bear witness to the transformative power of God’s grace in our lives. Let us strive to live in such a way that our actions reflect the love and mercy of God, even when it is difficult.