Daily Readings - Thu Jun 04 2020
2 Timothy
8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.10Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Mark
28And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.34And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, endurance, and love. The First Reading from 2 Timothy reminds us that even in the face of suffering and adversity, the Word of God remains unbound and triumphant. Paul, despite being chained, testifies to the power of the Gospel and encourages Timothy to remain faithful, enduring all things for the sake of the elect. This passage emphasizes the importance of perseverance and handling the Word of God with integrity, as we strive to live out our calling as followers of Christ.
The Gospel from Mark presents a beautiful dialogue between Jesus and a scribe, who asks about the greatest commandment. Jesus responds by affirming the Shema from Deuteronomy, declaring that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with our whole being—heart, soul, mind, and strength. He then adds the second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, highlighting that these two are inseparable. The scribe’s wise response earns Jesus’ commendation, as he acknowledges the truth of these teachings and notes that such understanding brings one close to the kingdom of God.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Just as Paul endures suffering for the sake of the Gospel, we too are called to remain steadfast in our commitment to Christ, even when faced with challenges. Similarly, Jesus’ teaching on the commandments reminds us that our faith is not just about intellectual assent but about living out love for God and neighbor in every aspect of our lives. May we strive to handle the Word of God with care, to love deeply, and to embody the truth of the Gospel in all that we do.