Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 5, 2018
First Reading: 2 Peter 3.12-15a, 17-18
12waiting for, and hurrying toward, the advent of the day of the Lord, by which the burning heavens shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt from the heat of the fire13Yet truly, in accord with his promises, we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth, in which justice lives14Therefore, most beloved, while awaiting these things, be diligent, so that you may be found to be immaculate and unassailable before him, in peace15And let the longsuffering of our Lord be considered salvation, as also our most beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you17But since you, brothers, know these things beforehand, be cautious, lest by being drawn into the error of the foolish, you may fall away from your own steadfastness18Yet truly, increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and in the day of eternity. Amen
Psalm 90
1A prayer of Moses, the man of God. O Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation2Before the mountains became, or the land was formed along with the world: from ages past, even to all ages, you are God3And, lest man be turned aside in humiliation, you have said: Be converted, O sons of men4For a thousand years before your eyes are like the days of yesterday, which have passed by, and they are like a watch of the night5which was held for nothing: so their years shall be6In the morning, he may pass away like grass; in the morning, he may flower and pass away. In the evening, he will fall, and harden, and become dry7For, at your wrath, we have withered away, and we have been disturbed by your fury8You have placed our iniquities in your sight, our age in the illumination of your countenance9For all our days have faded away, and at your wrath, we have fainted. Our years will be considered to be like a spider’s web10The days of our years in them are seventy years. But in the powerful, they are eighty years, and more of these are with hardship and sorrow. For mildness has overwhelmed us, and we shall be corrected11Who knows the power of your wrath? And, before fear, can your wrat12be numbered? So make known your right hand, along with men learned in heart, in wisdom13Return, O Lord, how long? And may you be persuaded on behalf of your servants14We were filled in the morning with your mercy, and we exulted and delighted all our days15We have been rejoicing, because of the days in which you humbled us, because of the years in which we saw evils16Look down upon your servants and upon their works, and direct their sons17And may the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us. And so, direct the works of our hands over us; direct even the work of our hands
Gospel: Mark 12.13-17
13And they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to him, so that they might trap him with words14And these, arriving, said to him: "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you do not favor anyone; for you do not consider the appearance of men, but you teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give the tribute to Caesar, or should we not give it?15And knowing their skill in deception, he said to them: "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, so that I may see it.16And they brought it to him. And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar’s.17So in response, Jesus said to them, "Then render to Caesar, the things that are of Caesar; and to God, the things that are of God." And they wondered over him
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the balance between our earthly responsibilities and our spiritual commitments. The First Reading from 2 Peter encourages us to live with an awareness of God's promise of a new heavens and a new earth, where justice will dwell. It reminds us to be diligent in our faith, growing in grace and knowledge of Christ, while being cautious not to be led astray by the errors of the world. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus' teaching on the relationship between earthly authority and divine authority. When asked about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus responds by pointing out that we must render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. This teaching challenges us to live in a way that respects both the temporal and spiritual dimensions of our lives.
The readings are connected by the theme of living in anticipation of God's justice and truth. In the First Reading, we are reminded that we are awaiting the day when God's justice will fully reign. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to live in the present while keeping our eyes fixed on that future. His response to the question about taxes emphasizes the importance of integrity and balance in our lives. We are called to be faithful citizens of both the earthly kingdom and the kingdom of God, recognizing that our ultimate allegiance is to God.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can apply this balance to our daily lives. We are called to be people of integrity, living justly and faithfully in the world while keeping our hearts and minds focused on God. This means being responsible stewards of the gifts and resources we have, whether they are material or spiritual. It also means being mindful of the ways in which our actions and decisions reflect our commitment to God's justice and love. Let us strive to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in a way that honors both Caesar and God, and ultimately, be found steadfast and faithful when the day of the Lord comes.