Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 6, 2020
First Reading: 2 Timothy 4.1-8
1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Psalm 71
1In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!2In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!3Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.4Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.5For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.6Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you.7I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.8My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.9Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.10For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together11and say, "God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him."12O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!13May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.14But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.15My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.16With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.17O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.18So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.19Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?20You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.21You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.22I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.23My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.24And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.
Gospel: Mark 12.38-44
38And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces39and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,40who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."41And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.42And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.43And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.44For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of living out our faith with authenticity and integrity. The first reading from 2 Timothy urges us to preach the Word of God with urgency and patience, even when it is difficult. St. Paul emphasizes the need to remain faithful to our mission, despite the challenges and pressures of the world around us. He warns that there will be times when people prefer false teachings over the truth, but we must remain steadfast in proclaiming the Gospel. The reading concludes with Paul’s personal testimony of perseverance, having “fought the good fight” and remained faithful until the end.
The Gospel from Mark complements this message by highlighting the contrast between outward piety and true devotion. Jesus criticizes the scribes who seek recognition and status through their religious practices, while neglecting the substance of their faith. He then points to the poor widow who, despite her poverty, gives everything she has to God. Her small coins may seem insignificant, but in God’s eyes, they are worth more than the large offerings of the wealthy because they represent total surrender and trust in God’s providence.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and how we live out our faith. Are we like the scribes, focusing on appearances rather than the depth of our commitment? Or are we like the widow, giving generously and trusting in God’s plan? Let us strive to live with authenticity, embracing the call to proclaim the Gospel with courage and humility. May we also learn to give freely, not just from our abundance, but from our very selves, recognizing that true faith is measured not by what we have, but by how we surrender it to God.