Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 5, 2023
First Reading: Tobit 1.1ad, 2a, 3, 17; 2.1-8
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Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!2His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.5It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.6For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.7He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.8His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.9He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.10The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!
Gospel: Mark 12.1-12
1And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country.2When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.3And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.4Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully.5And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed.6He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'7But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'8And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.9What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.10Have you not read this Scripture: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;11this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"12And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on faithfulness, stewardship, and the ultimate judgment of God. In the first reading from Tobit, we encounter a man who, despite being exiled and facing immense hardship, remains steadfast in his faith and his commitment to helping others. Tobit’s actions—burying the dead, feeding the hungry, and upholding the law—are not just acts of kindness but expressions of his deep trust in God’s providence. Even when his neighbors question his actions and warn him of the dangers, Tobit does not waver. His story reminds us that faithfulness to God and His commandments is not always easy, but it is always worth it.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who entrusts his land to tenants. Despite the owner’s generosity and trust, the tenants reject and mistreat his servants, even killing his beloved son. This parable is a stark reminder of how humanity has often rejected God’s messengers throughout history. The vineyard represents Israel, and the son represents Jesus Himself. The tenants’ refusal to acknowledge the owner’s authority reflects the spiritual blindness of those who reject God’s plan. Yet, the parable also offers hope: the vineyard will be given to others who will produce its fruit. This is a call to us to be faithful stewards of the gifts God has given us.
Both readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we like Tobit, remaining faithful even in difficult circumstances, or are we like the tenants, rejecting God’s grace and ignoring His call? The moral lesson is clear: faithfulness to God and His commandments leads to life, while rejection and disobedience lead to spiritual death. Let us strive to be good stewards of the vineyard God has entrusted to us, producing fruits of love, compassion, and fidelity. In doing so, we will not only honor God but also find true fulfillment in our lives.