Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 6, 2017
First Reading: Tobit 2.9-14; 3.1
This reading is not available in the NIV version. Visit the CPDV version to view the reading.
Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.2His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.4Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.5Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.6Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.7He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.8His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.10The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Gospel: Mark 12.13-17
13Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.14They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?15Should we pay or shouldn't we?"16But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?Caesar's," they replied.17Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons on faith and duty. The first reading from Tobit tells the story of a man who, despite his fears and the king's decree, chooses to honor God by burying the dead. His faith is tested when he becomes blind, yet he remains steadfast, exemplifying patience and trust in God's plan. This narrative reminds us that true faith endures even in the face of adversity, much like the story of Job.
The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus being questioned about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus' response, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," teaches us about balancing our earthly duties with our spiritual commitments. This lesson emphasizes that our faith should guide our actions in all aspects of life, whether in our obligations to the state or in our devotion to God.
These readings together remind us to trust in God's providence, even when faced with challenges. Like Tobit, we must remain faithful and patient, and like Jesus' teaching, we should strive to fulfill our duties while keeping God at the center of our lives. The moral lesson here is clear: our faith should be our compass, guiding us to trust God and balance our responsibilities with our spiritual commitments.