Daily Readings - Sat Jun 22 2019
2 Corinthians
1If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord2I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven3And I know a certain man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows)4who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak5On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities6For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me7And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly8Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me9And he said to me: "My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness." And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me10Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful
Matthew
24No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will have hatred for the one, and love the other, or he will persevere with the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth25And so I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, as to what you will eat, nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing26Consider the birds of the air, how they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much greater value than they are27And which of you, by thinking, is able to add one cubit to his stature28And as for clothing, why are you anxious? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither work nor weave29But I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these30So if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and cast into the oven tomorrow, how much more will he care for you, O little in faith31Therefore, do not choose to be anxious, saying: ‘What shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and with what shall we be clothed?32For the Gentiles seek all these things. Yet your Father knows that you need all these things33Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well34Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between weakness, trust, and the pursuit of God’s will. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of his own struggles and the revelations he received, yet he humbly acknowledges his limitations. He shares that he petitioned the Lord to remove a “thorn in the flesh,” but instead of relief, he received the assurance that God’s grace is sufficient. This profound lesson teaches us that our weaknesses are not obstacles but opportunities for God’s power to shine through us. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us against divided loyalties and anxiety about material needs. He encourages us to trust in God’s providence, pointing to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of His care. Jesus reminds us that seeking first the kingdom of God and His justice should be our priority, for all else will be given to us as well.
Both readings call us to reorient our lives toward trust and dependence on God. Paul’s willingness to embrace his infirmities and Jesus’ teachings on not worrying about tomorrow remind us that true strength lies not in self-reliance but in surrender. When we let go of the need to control every aspect of our lives, we open ourselves to the transformative power of grace. This does not mean we should be passive or irresponsible but rather that we should cultivate a deep trust that God is always at work, even in the midst of challenges.
As we apply these teachings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I holding on to anxiety or fear? Where am I trying to rely solely on my own strength? Let us remember that God’s grace is sufficient for us, just as it was for Paul. Let us seek to live with simplicity, trusting that our heavenly Father knows what we need. By prioritizing the kingdom of God and His justice, we align our hearts with His will, and we find peace in the midst of life’s uncertainties.