Daily Readings - Tue Jun 17 2025
2 Corinthians
1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will,4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints--5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.7But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also.8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Matthew
43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of love and generosity. The First Reading from 2 Corinthians highlights the extraordinary example of the Macedonian churches, who, despite their poverty and trials, overflowed with joy and generosity. Their willingness to give beyond their means was a testament to their deep faith and trust in God’s providence. This passage reminds us that true wealth is not measured by material possessions but by the richness of our hearts. The Macedonians’ selfless giving was not just about meeting a need but about participating in the grace of God, who became poor for our sake so that we might become rich.
The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to embrace a radical form of love—one that goes beyond loving only those who love us. Jesus calls us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and greet all people with kindness. This is not the way of the world but the way of the Kingdom of God. Just as the sun rises and the rain falls on both the good and the bad, our love should be universal, reflecting the boundless love of our heavenly Father. Jesus’ teaching pushes us beyond our comfort zones, urging us to imitate God’s perfection in our relationships with others.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both call us to live beyond ourselves. The Macedonians’ generosity and Jesus’ command to love our enemies remind us that Christian living is not about comfort or convenience but about surrendering to God’s will and trusting in his grace. In our daily lives, we are invited to examine how we respond to challenges, whether it’s giving to those in need or loving those who may not deserve it. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow God’s grace to transform us, or do we remain stuck in our own limitations? May we, like the Macedonians, find joy in giving and, like Jesus, love without boundaries. In doing so, we become true children of our Father in heaven, who is perfect in love.