Daily Readings - Wed Jun 06 2018

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,²To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.³I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.⁸So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,⁹who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,¹⁰but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.¹¹And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.¹²That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Mark

Chapter 12

¹⁸Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.¹⁹"Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.²⁰Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children.²¹The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.²²In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.²³At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"²⁴Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?²⁵When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.²⁶Now about the dead rising--have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?²⁷He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from 2 Timothy urges us to embrace our calling with courage and trust in God's grace. Paul reminds Timothy, and us, that God's power is not about fear but about virtue, love, and self-discipline. This letter, written in a time of persecution, encourages steadfastness in our faith, knowing that our ultimate hope is in eternal life through Christ. The Gospel from Mark presents a dialogue between Jesus and the Sadducees, who question the concept of resurrection. Jesus responds by clarifying that life after death transcends earthly marriage, drawing on the example of Moses to affirm that God is the God of the living. This exchange emphasizes trusting in God's plan beyond our current understanding, highlighting the promise of eternal life. Both readings intertwine themes of faith and trust in God's power. Paul's exhortation to Timothy and Jesus' teaching on resurrection remind us to face life's challenges with courage and hope. They encourage us to trust in God's grace and promises, understanding that our true home is in eternal life with Him. Let us live each day with faith, knowing that God's power guides us through all trials, and our ultimate hope is in His eternal embrace.