Daily Readings - Tue Jun 17 2025
2 Corinthians
1And so we are making known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia2For within a great experience of tribulation, they have had an abundance of joy, and their profound poverty has only increased the richness of their simplicity3And I bear witness to them, that they were willing to accept what was in accord with their ability, and even what was beyond their ability4For they were begging us, with great exhortation, for the grace and the communication of the ministry that is with the saints5And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God6so much so that we petitioned Titus, that in the same manner as he had begun, he would also complete in you this same grace7But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace8I am speaking, not commanding. But through the solicitude of others, I approve of the good character of your charity9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich
Matthew
43You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.44But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you45In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust46For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way47And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way48Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of love and generosity. The First Reading from 2 Corinthians highlights the extraordinary example of the Macedonian churches, who, despite their poverty and trials, overflowed with joy and generosity. Their willingness to give beyond their means was a testament to their deep faith and trust in God’s providence. This passage reminds us that true wealth is not measured by material possessions but by the richness of our hearts. The Macedonians’ selfless giving was not just about meeting a need but about participating in the grace of God, who became poor for our sake so that we might become rich.
The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to embrace a radical form of love—one that goes beyond loving only those who love us. Jesus calls us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and greet all people with kindness. This is not the way of the world but the way of the Kingdom of God. Just as the sun rises and the rain falls on both the good and the bad, our love should be universal, reflecting the boundless love of our heavenly Father. Jesus’ teaching pushes us beyond our comfort zones, urging us to imitate God’s perfection in our relationships with others.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both call us to live beyond ourselves. The Macedonians’ generosity and Jesus’ command to love our enemies remind us that Christian living is not about comfort or convenience but about surrendering to God’s will and trusting in his grace. In our daily lives, we are invited to examine how we respond to challenges, whether it’s giving to those in need or loving those who may not deserve it. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow God’s grace to transform us, or do we remain stuck in our own limitations? May we, like the Macedonians, find joy in giving and, like Jesus, love without boundaries. In doing so, we become true children of our Father in heaven, who is perfect in love.