Daily Readings - Tue Jun 06 2023
Tobit
9But Tobit, fearing God more than the king, stole away the bodies of the slain and concealed them in his house, and in the middle of the night, he buried them10But it happened one day, being tired from burying the dead, he came into his house, and he threw himself down next to the wall, and he slept11And, as he was sleeping, warm droppings from a swallow’s nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind12And so the Lord permitted this trial to befall him, in order that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, which is even like that of holy Job13For, even from his infancy, he had always feared God and kept his commandments, so he was not discouraged before God because of the scourge of blindness that had befallen him14But he remained immoveable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life15For just as kings have mocked blessed Job, so also his relatives and acquaintances ridiculed his life, saying16"Where is your hope, on behalf of which you gave alms and buried the dead?17In truth, Tobit corrected them, saying: "Do not speak in this way18for we are the sons of the holy ones, and we look forward to that life which God will give to those who never change in their faith before him.19In truth, his wife Anna went out to weaving work daily, and she brought back the provisions that she was able to obtain by the labor of her hands20Whereupon it happened that, having received a young goat, she brought it home21When her husband heard the sound of its bleating, he said, "Look, so that it might not be stolen, return it to its owners, for it is not lawful for us either to eat, or to touch, anything stolen.22At this, his wife, being angry, answered, "Clearly, your hope has become vanity, and the manner of your almsgiving has become apparent.23And with these and other similar such words, she reproached him
Mark
13And they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to him, so that they might trap him with words14And these, arriving, said to him: "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you do not favor anyone; for you do not consider the appearance of men, but you teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give the tribute to Caesar, or should we not give it?15And knowing their skill in deception, he said to them: "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, so that I may see it.16And they brought it to him. And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar’s.17So in response, Jesus said to them, "Then render to Caesar, the things that are of Caesar; and to God, the things that are of God." And they wondered over him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons on faith and integrity. The first reading from Tobit portrays a man of unwavering faith despite suffering. Tobit, though afflicted with blindness and faced with his wife's doubt, remains steadfast in his devotion to God, exemplifying patience and trust. His story reminds us that true faith endures even in the darkest times, teaching us to maintain our commitment to God amidst life's challenges.
The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus being tested by the Pharisees regarding taxes. Jesus' response, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," highlights the balance between earthly responsibilities and spiritual duties. This wisdom encourages us to fulfill our obligations in the world while keeping our focus on divine priorities.
Both readings connect through their emphasis on faith and integrity. Tobit's patience and Jesus' wisdom show us how to navigate life's difficulties with trust in God. Applying this to our lives, we are called to remain faithful during hardships and to act with honesty in all aspects of life, whether spiritual or worldly. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God and live with integrity, ensuring our actions reflect both our earthly duties and our spiritual devotion.