Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 13, 2025
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4.7-15
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Psalm 116
1I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.2Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.3The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.4Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.6The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.7Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.10I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:11I said in my haste, All men are liars.12What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.14I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.16O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.18I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,19In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 5.27-32
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the fragility of human life and the call to live with integrity and faith. In the second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that we are but earthen vessels, fragile and weak, yet we hold within us the sublime treasure of God’s power. He speaks of enduring tribulations, persecutions, and even death, but through it all, the life of Jesus is manifested in our mortal flesh. This passage underscores the paradox of Christian life: in our weakness, God’s strength shines forth, and in our suffering, His resurrection power is revealed.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to a deeper understanding of morality and purity. He teaches that sin goes beyond outward actions to the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Adultery, for instance, is not just a physical act but also a matter of lustful desires. Jesus calls us to radical self-denial, even to the point of sacrificing our own desires and attachments for the sake of living according to God’s will. This teaching is not about legalism but about the seriousness of sin and the call to holiness. It invites us to examine our hearts and to root out anything that leads us away from God.
These readings are deeply connected. Both remind us that the Christian life is not one of comfort or ease but of sacrifice and trust in God’s power. Just as Paul endures suffering with faith, Jesus calls us to endure the struggle against sin with courage and determination. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace our weaknesses and to rely on God’s grace. We are also called to purity of heart, which requires us to confront our own sinfulness and to make difficult choices. Let us ask for the strength to carry our crosses with faith, knowing that in our struggles, the life of Christ is made manifest. May we trust in God’s power to transform our frailty into a vessel of His glory.