Daily Readings - Mon Jun 19 2017
2 Corinthians
1We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.2For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:4But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,8By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Matthew
38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are presented with powerful teachings on how to respond to life’s challenges with grace and love. The First Reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that as ministers of God, we are called to endure hardships with patience and trust in His providence. Paul lists various trials—tribulation, imprisonment, rebellion—and encourages us to face them with patience, kindness, and truth. The Gospel from Matthew takes this a step further, as Jesus teaches us to go beyond merely enduring suffering. He calls us to respond actively with love and generosity, even to those who wrong us. Jesus’ teaching to turn the other cheek and to give freely challenges us to move beyond the natural human instinct of retaliation and instead to embrace a higher standard of love and forgiveness.
The context of these readings is crucial. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, is urging them not to take God’s grace for granted and to live in a way that reflects their faith. He emphasizes that our actions should always be guided by love and patience, even in the face of adversity. In the Gospel, Jesus is teaching His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount, where He is setting forth the values of the Kingdom of God. These values often stand in contrast to the world’s way of responding to evil with more evil. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not just about belief but about how we live out that belief in our daily lives.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are called to reflect on how we respond to challenges and conflicts. Do we allow anger or resentment to guide our actions, or do we choose to respond with patience and kindness? When someone wrongs us, do we seek revenge, or do we offer forgiveness? When someone is in need, do we turn away, or do we give generously? These are not easy questions, but they are at the heart of living as disciples of Christ. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith is tested not in times of comfort but in times of difficulty. By enduring hardship with patience and responding to evil with love, we bear witness to the transformative power of God’s grace in our lives. Let us strive to live in such a way that our actions reflect the love and mercy of God, even when it is difficult.