Daily Readings - Fri Jun 05 2020
2 Timothy
10But you have fully comprehended my doctrine, instruction, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience11persecutions, afflictions; such things as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; how I endured persecutions, and how the Lord rescued me from everything12And all those who willingly live the piety in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution13But evil men and deceivers will advance in evil, erring and sending into error14Yet truly, you should remain in those things which you have learned and which have been entrusted to you. For you know from whom you have learned them15And, from your infancy, you have known the Sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you toward salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus16All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice17so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work
Mark
35And while teaching in the temple, Jesus said in answer: "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David36For David himself said in the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I set your enemies as your footstool.37Therefore, David himself calls him Lord, and so how can he be his son?" And a great multitude listened to him willingly
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, identity, and the challenges of living as disciples of Christ. The first reading from 2 Timothy reminds us that following Christ comes with a cost. St. Paul writes about the inevitability of persecution for those who live a life of faith, yet he also offers hope, assuring us that the Lord rescues us from all trials. He emphasizes the importance of remaining rooted in the Scriptures, which have the power to instruct us in salvation and equip us for every good work. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel presents Jesus challenging the scribes’ understanding of the Messiah. By citing David’s psalm, Jesus highlights the paradox that the Messiah, though a descendant of David, is also David’s Lord, pointing to his divine nature. This exchange invites us to reflect on the depth of Christ’s identity and our own understanding of who he is.
Both readings call us to a deeper fidelity to the truth of God’s Word. In 2 Timothy, we are reminded that the Scriptures are not just ancient texts but living words that shape our lives and sustain us through trials. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to move beyond superficial understandings of faith and to grapple with the mystery of his divine and human nature. Together, these readings remind us that living as Christians requires both perseverance in the face of adversity and a commitment to understanding the richness of our faith.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we remain steadfast in our faith when faced with challenges? Do we turn to Scripture as a source of strength and guidance? And how deeply do we understand the identity of Jesus, who is both our brother in humanity and our Lord in divinity? May we allow these questions to draw us closer to Christ, embracing both the struggles and the joys of discipleship with courage and humility.