Daily Readings - Sat Jun 06 2020
2 Timothy
1I testify before God, and before Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead through his return and his kingdom2that you should preach the word urgently, in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke, with all patience and doctrine3For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but instead, according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, with itching ears4and certainly, they will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will be turned toward fables5But as for you, truly, be vigilant, laboring in all things. Do the work of an Evangelist, fulfilling your ministry. Show self-restraint6For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close7I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith8As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon
Mark
38And he said to them in his doctrine: "Beware of the scribes, who prefer to walk in long robes and to be greeted in the marketplace39and to sit in the first chairs in the synagogues, and to have the first seats at feasts40who devour the houses of widows under the pretense of long prayers. These shall receive the more extensive judgment.41And Jesus, sitting opposite the offertory box, considered the way in which the crowd cast coins into the offertory, and that many of the wealthy cast in a great deal42But when one poor widow had arrived, she put in two small coins, which is a quarter43And calling together his disciples, he said to them: "Amen I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than all those who contributed to the offertory44For they all gave from their abundance, yet truly, she gave from her scarcity, even all that she had, her entire living.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of living out our faith with authenticity and integrity. The first reading from 2 Timothy urges us to preach the Word of God with urgency and patience, even when it is difficult. St. Paul emphasizes the need to remain faithful to our mission, despite the challenges and pressures of the world around us. He warns that there will be times when people prefer false teachings over the truth, but we must remain steadfast in proclaiming the Gospel. The reading concludes with Paul’s personal testimony of perseverance, having “fought the good fight” and remained faithful until the end.
The Gospel from Mark complements this message by highlighting the contrast between outward piety and true devotion. Jesus criticizes the scribes who seek recognition and status through their religious practices, while neglecting the substance of their faith. He then points to the poor widow who, despite her poverty, gives everything she has to God. Her small coins may seem insignificant, but in God’s eyes, they are worth more than the large offerings of the wealthy because they represent total surrender and trust in God’s providence.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and how we live out our faith. Are we like the scribes, focusing on appearances rather than the depth of our commitment? Or are we like the widow, giving generously and trusting in God’s plan? Let us strive to live with authenticity, embracing the call to proclaim the Gospel with courage and humility. May we also learn to give freely, not just from our abundance, but from our very selves, recognizing that true faith is measured not by what we have, but by how we surrender it to God.