Daily Readings - Sat Jun 06 2020
2 Timothy
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.
Mark
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.