Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 14, 2024
First Reading: 1 Kings 19.9a, 11-16
9And when he had arrived there, he stayed in a cave. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?11And he said to him, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by. And there was a great and strong wind, tearing apart the mountains, and crushing the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake12And after the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the whisper of a gentle breeze13And when Elijah had heard it, he covered his face with his cloak, and going out, he stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there was a voice to him, saying: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" And he responded14"I have been very zealous on behalf of the Lord, the God of hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They have killed your prophets with the sword. I alone remain. And they are seeking my life, so that they may take it away.15And the Lord said to him: "Go, and return on your way, through the desert, to Damascus. And when you have arrived there, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Syria16And you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi, as king over Israel. But Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who is from Abelmeholah, you shall anoint to be a prophet in your place
Psalm 27
1A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid2Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen3If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this4One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple5For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle6He has exalted me upon the rock, and now he has exalted my head above my enemies. I have circled around and offered a sacrifice of loud exclamation in his tabernacle. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm, to the Lord7Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me8My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord9Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Saviour10For my father and my mother have left me behind, but the Lord has taken me up11O Lord, establish a law for me in your way, and direct me in the right path, because of my enemies12Do not surrender me to the souls of those who trouble me. For unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity has lied to itself13I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living14Wait for the Lord, act manfully; and let your heart be strengthened, and remain with the Lord
Gospel: Matthew 5.27-32
27You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not commit adultery.28But I say to you, that anyone who will have looked at a woman, so as to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart29And if your right eye causes you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body be cast into Hell30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body go into Hell31And it has been said: ‘Whoever would dismiss his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.32But I say to you, that anyone who will have dismissed his wife, except in the case of fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever will have married her who has been dismissed commits adultery
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons on encountering God and the importance of inner purity. The first reading from 1 Kings describes Elijah's experience in a cave, where he finds God not in the dramatic wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle breeze. This moment teaches us that God's presence is often found in stillness, requiring us to quiet our minds and hearts. Elijah, feeling isolated and persecuted, learns that God's voice is subtle yet powerful, urging him to trust and continue his mission.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus's teachings on adultery and the deeper implications of our thoughts and desires. Jesus emphasizes that sin begins in the heart, highlighting the need for self-awareness and control over our inner lives. This teaching challenges us to move beyond outward actions and consider the intentions that drive them, aligning our thoughts with God's will.
Both readings guide us toward interior transformation. Elijah's encounter reminds us to seek God in stillness, while Jesus's teaching calls us to guard our hearts against sin. In our daily lives, this means creating space for reflection and mindfulness, ensuring our desires and thoughts lead us closer to God. The moral lesson here is clear: our spiritual journey is not about external achievements but the condition of our hearts. Let us embrace the stillness, letting go of what leads us astray, and foster a deeper, authentic relationship with God.