Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 13, 2020
First Reading: 1 Kings 19.16b, 19-21
16And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.20And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"21And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Psalm 16
1Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.2I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.4The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.6The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.8I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.11You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Gospel: Matthew 5.33-37
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 encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Kings 19:16b-21 tells the story of Elisha's call to prophethood by Elijah. Elisha, while engaged in his daily work, is abruptly called by Elijah, who symbolically passes on his mantle. Elisha, after a brief farewell to his family, leaves his life behind to follow Elijah, demonstrating a radical commitment to God's call. This act of surrender and trust in God's plan is a powerful example of discipleship, showing that following God requires readiness to let go of worldly attachments.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 5:33-37 presents Jesus' teaching on the importance of integrity in speech. Jesus emphasizes that our words should be truthful and straightforward, without the need for oaths. He warns against the tendency to seek validation through swearing, which can lead to insincerity. Jesus teaches that our "Yes" should mean "Yes" and our "No" should mean "No," reflecting a life of honesty and simplicity. This lesson underscores the value of living with integrity, where our actions and words align with our commitment to follow God's will.
These readings connect through the themes of commitment and integrity. Elisha's immediate response to Elijah's call mirrors the kind of wholehearted dedication Jesus expects from His followers. Similarly, Jesus' teaching on truthful speech calls us to live with authenticity, reflecting the integrity that should mark our lives as Christians. In our daily lives, we are challenged to respond to God's call with courage and to speak with honesty, ensuring that our words and actions consistently reflect our faith. Let us strive to follow God wholeheartedly and live with the integrity that honors Him.