Daily Readings - Sun Jun 04 2023
Exodus
4So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone.5The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.6The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,8And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.9And he said, "If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance."
John
16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s mercy, love, and the call to live in harmony with one another. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses encounters God on Mount Sinai, where he receives the tablets of the covenant again after the people’s sin with the golden calf. God reveals Himself as merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. This passage reminds us of God’s patience and forgiveness, even in the face of human failure. Moses’ humble response—bowing down and asking for God’s presence—shows the proper posture of gratitude and trust in a merciful God.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians encourages the community to live in peace and unity. Paul urges the Corinthians to rejoice, be perfected, and have the same mind, emphasizing the importance of harmony among believers. He reminds them that the God of peace and love is with them, and he encourages them to greet one another with a holy kiss—a sign of unity and affection. This reading calls us to live as people of peace, striving for oneness in Christ.
The Gospel from John brings these themes together by revealing the depth of God’s love for the world. John 3:16, one of the most familiar verses in Scripture, declares that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that all who believe in Him might have eternal life. This passage underscores that God’s purpose is not to condemn but to save. It invites us to reflect on the boundless love of God, who desires that all people might come to know and experience His salvation.
As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded of the central truths of our faith: God’s mercy, His desire for unity among His people, and the boundless love He has for the world. In our daily lives, we are called to embody these truths. Let us strive to be instruments of God’s mercy and love, forgiving others as He forgives us and working toward unity in our relationships and communities. May we never lose sight of the profound gift of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, and may we share that gift with a world in need of His love.