Daily Readings - Sat Jun 17 2017

¹⁴For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;¹⁵and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.¹⁶From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.¹⁸All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Matthew

Chapter 5

³³"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'³⁴But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.³⁶And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.³⁷Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we reflect on themes of reconciliation and authenticity. The Second Reading from 2 Corinthians emphasizes our new life in Christ, urging us to be ambassadors of reconciliation. Paul writes that through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are made new, called to live not for ourselves but for Him. This transformation is a gift from God, enabling us to see others through the lens of grace and mercy. In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus teaches about the simplicity of truth, instructing us to let our words be truthful without the need for oaths. He warns that anything beyond a simple “yes” or “no” comes from evil, highlighting the importance of integrity in our speech. These readings, though from different contexts, are deeply connected. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was written to a community grappling with division, urging them to embrace their reconciled state in Christ. Similarly, Matthew’s Gospel excerpt is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus challenges his followers to live authentically. Together, they call us to a life transformed by Christ, where our actions and words reflect His presence within us. The connection lies in the call to authenticity and reconciliation, reminding us that our faith should permeate every aspect of our lives. Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to be peacemakers and truth-tellers. As reconcilers, we should seek to heal divisions in our communities and families. In our interactions, let us strive to be people of our word, demonstrating integrity in all we say and do. This not only builds trust but also reflects the character of Christ. The moral lesson here is profound: our new life in Christ compels us to live with authenticity and compassion. May we embrace this call, allowing the love of Christ to transform us and shine through us, inspiring others to seek reconciliation and truth.