Daily Readings - Tue Jun 05 2018
2 Peter
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
Mark
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.