Daily Readings - Sat Jun 22 2019
2 Corinthians
1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.6Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.7So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated.8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Matthew
24"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.25"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.34"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between weakness, trust, and the pursuit of God’s will. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of his own struggles and the revelations he received, yet he humbly acknowledges his limitations. He shares that he petitioned the Lord to remove a “thorn in the flesh,” but instead of relief, he received the assurance that God’s grace is sufficient. This profound lesson teaches us that our weaknesses are not obstacles but opportunities for God’s power to shine through us. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us against divided loyalties and anxiety about material needs. He encourages us to trust in God’s providence, pointing to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of His care. Jesus reminds us that seeking first the kingdom of God and His justice should be our priority, for all else will be given to us as well.
Both readings call us to reorient our lives toward trust and dependence on God. Paul’s willingness to embrace his infirmities and Jesus’ teachings on not worrying about tomorrow remind us that true strength lies not in self-reliance but in surrender. When we let go of the need to control every aspect of our lives, we open ourselves to the transformative power of grace. This does not mean we should be passive or irresponsible but rather that we should cultivate a deep trust that God is always at work, even in the midst of challenges.
As we apply these teachings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I holding on to anxiety or fear? Where am I trying to rely solely on my own strength? Let us remember that God’s grace is sufficient for us, just as it was for Paul. Let us seek to live with simplicity, trusting that our heavenly Father knows what we need. By prioritizing the kingdom of God and His justice, we align our hearts with His will, and we find peace in the midst of life’s uncertainties.