Daily Readings - Tue Jun 05 2018
2 Peter
12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Mark
13And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.14And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?15Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.16And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.17And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the balance between our earthly responsibilities and our spiritual commitments. The First Reading from 2 Peter encourages us to live with an awareness of God's promise of a new heavens and a new earth, where justice will dwell. It reminds us to be diligent in our faith, growing in grace and knowledge of Christ, while being cautious not to be led astray by the errors of the world. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus' teaching on the relationship between earthly authority and divine authority. When asked about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus responds by pointing out that we must render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. This teaching challenges us to live in a way that respects both the temporal and spiritual dimensions of our lives.
The readings are connected by the theme of living in anticipation of God's justice and truth. In the First Reading, we are reminded that we are awaiting the day when God's justice will fully reign. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to live in the present while keeping our eyes fixed on that future. His response to the question about taxes emphasizes the importance of integrity and balance in our lives. We are called to be faithful citizens of both the earthly kingdom and the kingdom of God, recognizing that our ultimate allegiance is to God.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can apply this balance to our daily lives. We are called to be people of integrity, living justly and faithfully in the world while keeping our hearts and minds focused on God. This means being responsible stewards of the gifts and resources we have, whether they are material or spiritual. It also means being mindful of the ways in which our actions and decisions reflect our commitment to God's justice and love. Let us strive to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in a way that honors both Caesar and God, and ultimately, be found steadfast and faithful when the day of the Lord comes.