Daily Readings - Sat Jun 21 2025
2 Corinthians
1If it is necessary (though certainly not expedient) to glory, then I will next tell of visions and revelations from the Lord2I know a man in Christ, who, more than fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows), was enraptured to the third heaven3And I know a certain man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know: God knows)4who was enraptured into Paradise. And he heard words of mystery, which it is not permitted for man to speak5On behalf of someone like this, I will glory. But on behalf of myself, I will not glory about anything, except my infirmities6For even though I am willing to glory, I will not be foolish. But I will speak the truth. Yet I will do so sparingly, lest anyone may consider me to be anything more than what he sees in me, or anything more than what he hears from me7And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly8Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me9And he said to me: "My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness." And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me10Because of this, I am pleased in my infirmity: in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful
Matthew
24No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will have hatred for the one, and love the other, or he will persevere with the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth25And so I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, as to what you will eat, nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing26Consider the birds of the air, how they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much greater value than they are27And which of you, by thinking, is able to add one cubit to his stature28And as for clothing, why are you anxious? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither work nor weave29But I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these30So if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and cast into the oven tomorrow, how much more will he care for you, O little in faith31Therefore, do not choose to be anxious, saying: ‘What shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and with what shall we be clothed?32For the Gentiles seek all these things. Yet your Father knows that you need all these things33Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well34Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound reflections on trust and surrender to God’s providence. The first reading from 2 Corinthians finds Paul recounting his mystical experiences, yet he quickly shifts focus to his weaknesses and the grace of God that sustains him. He describes how he pleaded with the Lord to remove a trial, only to hear the reassuring words, “My grace is sufficient for you.” This humility and trust in God’s plan, despite suffering, are central to Paul’s message. The Gospel from Matthew continues this theme, as Jesus teaches His disciples not to be consumed by anxiety about material needs. He invites them to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, which are cared for by God, and to trust that their heavenly Father will provide for them as well. Jesus emphasizes that true freedom comes from seeking the Kingdom of God first and trusting in His goodness.
The readings are deeply connected in their call to trust in God’s providence. Paul’s willingness to glory in his weaknesses rather than his strengths reflects a radical reliance on God’s grace. Similarly, Jesus’ teaching challenges us to let go of our obsession with security and control, instead placing our hope in the Father’s care. Both readings remind us that true strength lies not in self-sufficiency but in surrendering our fears and anxieties to God. This is not an invitation to passivity but to a deeper faith that recognizes God’s presence and action in all things.
How can we apply this to our daily lives? So often, we are tempted to rely on our own efforts and resources, or we become overwhelmed by worries about the future. These readings invite us to reorient our hearts. When we face challenges or uncertainties, let us remember Paul’s words: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” And when anxiety creeps in, let us recall Jesus’ gentle assurance that our Father knows what we need. By seeking first the Kingdom of God, we are not neglecting our responsibilities but rather placing them in the hands of the One who cares for us more than we can imagine. In this way, we find true peace and freedom, even in the midst of life’s trials.