Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 13, 2025
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4.7-15
7But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us8In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute9We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish10We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies11For we who live are ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh12Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you13But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, "I believed, and for that reason I spoke," so we also believe, and for that reason, we also speak14For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you15Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God
Psalm 116
1Alleluia. I have loved: therefore, the Lord will heed the voice of my prayer2For he has inclined his ear to me. And in my days, I will call upon him3The sorrows of death have surrounded me, and the perils of Hell have found me. I have found tribulation and sorrow4And so, I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, free my soul5Merciful is the Lord, and just. And our God is compassionate6The Lord is the keeper of little ones. I was humbled, and he freed me7Turn again, my soul, to your rest. For the Lord has done good to you8For he has rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from slipping9I will please the Lord in the land of the living10Alleluia. I had confidence, because of what I was saying, but then I was greatly humbled11I said in my excess, "Every man is a liar.12What shall I repay to the Lord, for all the things that he has repaid to me13I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord14I will repay my vows to the Lord, in the sight of all his people15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones16O Lord, because I am your servant, your servant and the son of your handmaid, you have broken my bonds17I will sacrifice to you the sacrifice of praise, and I will invoke the name of the Lord18I will repay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the fragility of human life and the call to live with integrity and faith. In the second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that we are but earthen vessels, fragile and weak, yet we hold within us the sublime treasure of God’s power. He speaks of enduring tribulations, persecutions, and even death, but through it all, the life of Jesus is manifested in our mortal flesh. This passage underscores the paradox of Christian life: in our weakness, God’s strength shines forth, and in our suffering, His resurrection power is revealed.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to a deeper understanding of morality and purity. He teaches that sin goes beyond outward actions to the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Adultery, for instance, is not just a physical act but also a matter of lustful desires. Jesus calls us to radical self-denial, even to the point of sacrificing our own desires and attachments for the sake of living according to God’s will. This teaching is not about legalism but about the seriousness of sin and the call to holiness. It invites us to examine our hearts and to root out anything that leads us away from God.
These readings are deeply connected. Both remind us that the Christian life is not one of comfort or ease but of sacrifice and trust in God’s power. Just as Paul endures suffering with faith, Jesus calls us to endure the struggle against sin with courage and determination. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace our weaknesses and to rely on God’s grace. We are also called to purity of heart, which requires us to confront our own sinfulness and to make difficult choices. Let us ask for the strength to carry our crosses with faith, knowing that in our struggles, the life of Christ is made manifest. May we trust in God’s power to transform our frailty into a vessel of His glory.