Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 2, 2021
First Reading: Tobit 3.1-6a, 7-10a, 11-13, 15b-17a
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Psalm 25
1Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.2O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.3Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.6Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.8Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.10All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.12What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.13His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.14The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.15Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.16Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.17The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.18Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.19Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.20O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Gospel: Mark 12.18-27
18Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,19Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.20Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.21And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.22And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.23In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.24And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.26And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?27He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, suffering, and the promise of eternal life. The first reading from Tobit presents us with two figures, Tobit and Sarah, who are each enduring immense suffering. Tobit, overwhelmed by his circumstances, prays for mercy and acceptance of God's will, even if it means death. Similarly, Sarah, having lost seven husbands and facing scorn, turns to God in prayer, seeking liberation from her affliction. Both stories highlight the human experience of grappling with pain while maintaining faith in God's providence.
The Gospel reading from Mark shifts our focus to a theological debate about the resurrection. The Sadducees, skeptical of the afterlife, pose a question to Jesus about a woman who marries seven brothers, asking whose wife she would be in the resurrection. Jesus responds by clarifying that the resurrection is not a mere continuation of earthly life but a transformation. He emphasizes that in the resurrected state, we will be like angels, free from the bonds of marriage and earthly concerns. This teaching underscores the spiritual nature of eternal life and corrects the Sadducees' misunderstanding by referencing God's covenant with the patriarchs, asserting that He is the God of the living, not the dead.
These readings remind us to trust in God's mercy and providence, even in the face of suffering. Like Tobit and Sarah, we are called to perseverance and faith, knowing that our ultimate hope lies in the resurrection. Jesus teaches us that our true fulfillment is not in earthly relationships but in a spiritual existence where we live in the presence of God. As we navigate our own struggles, may we find strength in prayer and trust in God's promise of eternal life, where suffering will be transformed into joy and peace.