Daily Readings - Thu Jun 10 2021
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 grace and the call to live with integrity and compassion. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks about the veil that covers the hearts of those who do not see the truth of the Gospel. He reminds us that true freedom and transformation come from the Spirit of the Lord, who enlightens our minds and hearts to see the glory of God in the face of Christ. Paul emphasizes that our ministry is not about ourselves but about proclaiming Jesus Christ, and that the light of God’s truth shines in us despite the darkness of this world.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to go beyond the external observance of the law and to live with a deeper righteousness. He warns us against the destructive power of anger and insults, teaching that our relationship with others is just as important as our relationship with God. Jesus urges us to seek reconciliation quickly, even before offering worship, because unresolved conflicts can lead to spiritual harm. This teaching reminds us that our faith must be lived out in love and humility, not just in words or rituals.
These readings are connected by the theme of transformation and authenticity. In 2 Corinthians, the Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ, while in Matthew, Jesus calls us to transform our hearts by living out the Gospel in our relationships. Both readings remind us that our faith is not just about what we believe but about how we live. In our daily lives, we are called to let the Spirit of God shine through us, to seek reconciliation when we have wronged others, and to live with integrity and compassion. Let us ask for the grace to allow God’s light to penetrate our hearts and to live in a way that reflects the love and truth of Christ.