Daily Readings - Thu Jun 13 2019
2 Corinthians
15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Matthew
20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s Spirit and the call to live out our faith in love and reconciliation. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of the veil that once covered the hearts of God’s people, a veil that is lifted when we turn to the Lord. He reminds us that the Spirit of the Lord brings freedom and transfigures us into the image of Christ. This transformation is not just an inward reality but also a call to mission. Paul emphasizes that we are servants of the Gospel, entrusted with the ministry of illuminating the splendor of God in the face of Christ Jesus. The light of the Gospel, however, can be obscured for those who are perishing, and it is our responsibility to live in such a way that this light shines through us.
In the Gospel, Matthew 5:20-26, Jesus teaches us that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. He deepens the commandment against murder by condemning anger and hurtful speech. Jesus makes it clear that our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationships with one another. If we remember that our brother or sister has something against us while we are offering our gift at the altar, we must first seek reconciliation. This teaching underscores the importance of living in love and harmony with others. Jesus warns us to reconcile quickly with our adversaries, lest we face the consequences of unresolved conflict. This is not just a practical advice but a spiritual imperative: our worship and our witness are hollow if we do not live in peace with one another.
These readings remind us that our faith is not merely a set of beliefs but a way of life. The Spirit of the Lord transforms us, but this transformation must bear fruit in our actions. We are called to be light in a world that often prefers darkness, and this light is most visible when we love and forgive as Christ has loved and forgiven us. Let us ask ourselves: Are there relationships in my life that need healing? Am I allowing the Spirit to shine through me in my interactions with others? May we seek reconciliation where there is division and may we reflect the splendor of God in all that we do.