Daily Readings - Tue Jun 18 2019
2 Corinthians
1And so we are making known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia2For within a great experience of tribulation, they have had an abundance of joy, and their profound poverty has only increased the richness of their simplicity3And I bear witness to them, that they were willing to accept what was in accord with their ability, and even what was beyond their ability4For they were begging us, with great exhortation, for the grace and the communication of the ministry that is with the saints5And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God6so much so that we petitioned Titus, that in the same manner as he had begun, he would also complete in you this same grace7But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace8I am speaking, not commanding. But through the solicitude of others, I approve of the good character of your charity9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich
Matthew
43You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.44But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you45In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust46For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way47And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way48Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the transformative power of generosity and unconditional love. The second reading from 2 Corinthians highlights the extraordinary generosity of the Macedonian churches, who, despite their poverty, gave abundantly to support others. This act of selfless giving was not out of obligation but a heartfelt response to God's grace, demonstrating that true generosity stems from a deep love for God and neighbor. The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to embrace an even higher standard of love—loving not just those who love us, but also our enemies. Jesus teaches us to pray for those who persecute us, mirroring the universal love of our heavenly Father, who showers His gifts equally on the just and the unjust.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both call us to transcend human limitations and embrace divine generosity and love. The Macedonians' willingness to give beyond their means reflects the same spirit of selflessness that Jesus teaches in the Gospel. Both readings invite us to move beyond mere duty or reciprocity and to act out of a gratuitous love that imitates God's own way of loving. Just as the Macedonians gave "first to the Lord and then to us," we too are called to surrender ourselves to God's will, trusting that His grace will provide us with everything we need to live as His children.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own attitudes toward giving and loving. Do we give reluctantly or generously? Do we love only those who love us back, or are we willing to extend love to those who may not deserve it? The moral lesson here is clear: our ultimate model is God Himself, who is perfect in His love and generosity. As we strive to "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect," we must trust in His providence and allow His grace to transform our hearts. By doing so, we become instruments of His love and generosity in a world that sorely needs it.