Daily Readings - Fri Jun 05 2020
2 Timothy
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Mark
35And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.37David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, identity, and the challenges of living as disciples of Christ. The first reading from 2 Timothy reminds us that following Christ comes with a cost. St. Paul writes about the inevitability of persecution for those who live a life of faith, yet he also offers hope, assuring us that the Lord rescues us from all trials. He emphasizes the importance of remaining rooted in the Scriptures, which have the power to instruct us in salvation and equip us for every good work. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel presents Jesus challenging the scribes’ understanding of the Messiah. By citing David’s psalm, Jesus highlights the paradox that the Messiah, though a descendant of David, is also David’s Lord, pointing to his divine nature. This exchange invites us to reflect on the depth of Christ’s identity and our own understanding of who he is.
Both readings call us to a deeper fidelity to the truth of God’s Word. In 2 Timothy, we are reminded that the Scriptures are not just ancient texts but living words that shape our lives and sustain us through trials. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to move beyond superficial understandings of faith and to grapple with the mystery of his divine and human nature. Together, these readings remind us that living as Christians requires both perseverance in the face of adversity and a commitment to understanding the richness of our faith.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we remain steadfast in our faith when faced with challenges? Do we turn to Scripture as a source of strength and guidance? And how deeply do we understand the identity of Jesus, who is both our brother in humanity and our Lord in divinity? May we allow these questions to draw us closer to Christ, embracing both the struggles and the joys of discipleship with courage and humility.