Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 4, 2018
First Reading: 2 Peter 1.1-7
1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Psalm 91
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Gospel: Mark 12.1-12
1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.7But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.9What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.10And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:11This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, rejection, and the cultivation of virtues. The first reading from 2 Peter encourages believers to grow in faith and virtue, emphasizing that through these, we become partakers of the divine nature. This letter, written in a time of persecution, urges believers to remain steadfast and cultivate qualities like knowledge, moderation, patience, piety, love, and charity.
The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus' parable of the vineyard, where the owner's servants and son are rejected and killed by the tenants. This parable serves as a critique of religious leaders who reject God's messengers. Jesus quotes a Psalm, highlighting that the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone, a testament to God's transformative power.
Both readings connect through themes of rejection and the importance of faith. While 2 Peter focuses on believers' responses to rejection through virtue, Mark's parable illustrates the consequences of rejecting God's message. In daily life, we face rejection but should respond with patience and love, cultivating virtues that reflect our faith. The moral lesson is clear: faith and virtues transform us, and rejecting God's message leads to downfall. Let us embrace our faith and virtues, trusting in God's plan.