Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 10, 2018
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 9.6-10
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:9As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Psalm 112
1Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.3Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.6Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.8His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.10The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Gospel: John 12.24-26
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of generosity, sacrifice, and the transformative power of self-giving love. The Second Reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that our actions have consequences: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows with blessings shall also reap from blessings.” Paul emphasizes that true giving is not about obligation or sadness but about cheerful generosity. This passage is part of Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians to contribute to the collection for the Jerusalem church, teaching them that God’s grace multiplies our efforts when we give with joy and trust in His providence.
The Gospel from John takes us deeper into the mystery of sacrifice. Jesus says, “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit.” These words, spoken in the context of His own approaching death, reveal the paradox of Christian life: to gain eternal life, we must let go of our attachment to this world. Jesus is not calling us to hatred of life but to a willingness to surrender our selfish desires for the sake of love. This is the path to true fruitfulness.
Together, these readings remind us that Christian life is rooted in both generosity and sacrifice. Paul calls us to open our hearts and resources to others, trusting that God will abundantly provide for our needs. Jesus invites us to embrace the mystery of self-giving love, knowing that true life comes from surrendering ourselves for the sake of others. In our daily lives, this means being willing to step out of our comfort zones, to share what we have, and to love without counting the cost. Let us ask for the grace to live this way, trusting that our acts of love and sacrifice will bear fruit far beyond what we can imagine.