Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 12, 2017
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 1.1-7
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Psalm 34
1I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.2My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.3Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.4I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.6This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.9Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;16the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.19A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;20he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.21Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Gospel: Matthew 5.1-12
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,2and he began to teach them saying:3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear powerful messages about hope, consolation, and the transformative power of faith amidst suffering. The first reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that God, the Father of mercies, consoles us in our tribulations so that we, in turn, may console others. Paul shares his own struggles and the struggles of the early Christian community, but he does not leave us in despair. Instead, he points to the hope that comes from sharing in Christ's sufferings and consolation. This passage invites us to see our struggles not as ends in themselves but as opportunities to grow in compassion and to support one another.
The Gospel from Matthew presents us with the Beatitudes, a beautiful and counter-cultural vision of what it means to live a life pleasing to God. Jesus blesses those who are poor in spirit, meek, mournful, hungry for justice, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers. He even blesses those who endure persecution for the sake of justice. These Beatitudes challenge us to reevaluate our values and priorities, calling us to embrace humility, kindness, and a commitment to justice, even when it is difficult. They remind us that true happiness and fulfillment come not from worldly success but from living in harmony with God's will.
These readings are deeply connected. Both Paul and Jesus teach us that our struggles and hardships are not obstacles to living a meaningful life but are instead opportunities to grow closer to God and to serve others. The Beatitudes show us the attitudes and virtues that should shape our lives, while Paul's letter encourages us to trust in God's plan and to find hope even in the midst of suffering. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How can we embrace the challenges of our own lives with faith and hope? How can we live out the Beatitudes in our daily interactions with others? May we find strength in God's consolation and may we strive to be peacemakers and sources of hope in a world that often seems divided and broken.