Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 7, 2023
First Reading: Tobit 3.1-6a, 7-10a, 11-13, 15b-17a
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Psalm 25
1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.2O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.3Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.4Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.5Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.6Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.7Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.9He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.11For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.12Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.13His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.14The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.15My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.16Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.17The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.18Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.19Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.20Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.21May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Gospel: Mark 12.18-27
18And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying,19"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.20There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring.21And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.22And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died.23In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."24Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.26And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?27He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that guide us in navigating life's challenges with faith and trust in God. The first reading from Tobit presents us with Tobit and Sarah, both enduring immense suffering. Tobit, burdened by blindness and sorrow, and Sarah, grappling with the loss of seven husbands and ensuing shame, each turn to God in their darkest moments. Their prayers exemplify unwavering faith, seeking deliverance and mercy from God.
The Gospel reading from Mark features the Sadducees questioning Jesus about the resurrection. They pose a complex scenario involving seven brothers and a woman, inquiring whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus' response transforms their earthly perspective, explaining that resurrection life transcends marriage, likening it to the angels. He underscores God's role as the God of the living, referencing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thus correcting their misunderstanding.
These readings intertwine themes of suffering, faith, and trust in God. Tobit and Sarah's stories highlight perseverance amidst adversity, while Jesus' teaching reveals the eternal nature of life with God. Together, they remind us to trust God's plan, even in suffering, and to focus on spiritual growth. The moral lesson is clear: maintain faith, trust in God's mercy, and recognize that our true life is eternal. Let us pray fervently and trust in God's promises, even when immediate results are unseen.