Daily Readings - Wed Jun 05 2024

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,²To Timothy, my beloved child:Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.³I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,⁷for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,⁹who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,¹⁰and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,¹¹for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,¹²which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Mark

Chapter 12

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 powerful messages about faith, trust, and the nature of eternal life. The first reading from 2 Timothy emphasizes standing firm in faith despite challenges, trusting in God's power and grace. Paul encourages Timothy to rekindle the grace within him, urging boldness in sharing the Gospel and confidence in God's power. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus correcting the Sadducees' misunderstanding of the resurrection, illustrating that life beyond death is a transformation where earthly bonds like marriage no longer apply, much like the angels. Both readings highlight the importance of understanding God's power and the Scriptures. Paul's letter to Timothy is a call to courage and trust in God's plan, while Jesus' response to the Sadducees underscores the reality of resurrection as a new form of life focused on God. These themes remind us to trust in God's eternal promises and live with hope beyond current circumstances. In daily life, these teachings encourage us to face challenges with faith, not fear, and to trust in God's plan. They invite us to embrace the hope of eternal life, where our true identity and purpose are in God. Let us live boldly, sharing the Gospel and trusting in God's power, knowing that our ultimate home is with Him.