Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 6, 2024
First Reading: 2 Timothy 2.8-15
8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;13if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
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 12.28-34
28And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"29Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."32And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him.33And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."34And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the enduring power of faith and love. The first reading from 2 Timothy emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity, urging us to remain faithful and steadfast in our commitment to the Gospel. Paul’s words remind us that our suffering can have meaning when it is endured for the sake of others and for the sake of the truth. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to the heart of God’s commandments: love. Jesus teaches us that the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole being, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. These two commandments are inseparable, for love of God cannot exist without love of neighbor, and vice versa.
The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on the transformative power of love and faith. In 2 Timothy, Paul’s endurance in the face of suffering is rooted in his love for the elect and his fidelity to the Gospel. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that love is the very essence of God’s law. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not just about enduring hardships but also about living out the love that God has poured into our hearts. True faith is not passive; it is active in loving God and neighbor, even when it is difficult.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we endure trials in our own lives? Do we see them as opportunities to grow in faith and love? And how do we love those around us? Do we love with the same intensity and completeness that Jesus commands? Let us strive to live out our faith with courage and love, knowing that it is through these virtues that we draw closer to God and become the people He has called us to be.