Daily Readings - Thu Jun 04 2020
2 Timothy
8Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the offspring of David, has risen again from the dead, according to my Gospel9I labor in this Gospel, even while chained like an evildoer. But the Word of God is not bound10I endure all things for this reason: for the sake of the elect, so that they, too, may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory11It is a faithful saying: that if we have died with him, we will also live with him12If we suffer, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us13If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful: he is not able to deny himself14Insist on these things, testifying before the Lord. Do not be contentious about words, for this is useful for nothing but the subversion of listeners15Be solicitous in the task of presenting yourself before God as a proven and unashamed worker who has handled the Word of Truth correctly
Mark
28And one of the scribes, who had heard them arguing, drew near to him. And seeing that he had answered them well, he questioned him as to which was the first commandment of all29And Jesus answered him: "For the first commandment of all is this: ‘Listen, O Israel. The Lord your God is one God30And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from your whole mind, and from your whole strength. This is the first commandment.31But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.32And the scribe said to him: Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth that there is one God, and there is no other beside him33and that he should be loved from the whole heart, and from the whole understanding, and from the whole soul, and from the whole strength. And to love one’s neighbor as one’s self is greater than all holocausts and sacrifices.34And Jesus, seeing that he had responded wisely, said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared to question him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, endurance, and love. The First Reading from 2 Timothy reminds us that even in the face of suffering and adversity, the Word of God remains unbound and triumphant. Paul, despite being chained, testifies to the power of the Gospel and encourages Timothy to remain faithful, enduring all things for the sake of the elect. This passage emphasizes the importance of perseverance and handling the Word of God with integrity, as we strive to live out our calling as followers of Christ.
The Gospel from Mark presents a beautiful dialogue between Jesus and a scribe, who asks about the greatest commandment. Jesus responds by affirming the Shema from Deuteronomy, declaring that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with our whole being—heart, soul, mind, and strength. He then adds the second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, highlighting that these two are inseparable. The scribe’s wise response earns Jesus’ commendation, as he acknowledges the truth of these teachings and notes that such understanding brings one close to the kingdom of God.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Just as Paul endures suffering for the sake of the Gospel, we too are called to remain steadfast in our commitment to Christ, even when faced with challenges. Similarly, Jesus’ teaching on the commandments reminds us that our faith is not just about intellectual assent but about living out love for God and neighbor in every aspect of our lives. May we strive to handle the Word of God with care, to love deeply, and to embody the truth of the Gospel in all that we do.