Daily Readings - Fri Jun 14 2019
2 Corinthians
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Matthew
27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, suffering, and the deeper implications of God’s law. In 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that our bodies are but fragile vessels holding a divine treasure. He speaks of enduring trials and tribulations, not with despair, but with hope, knowing that our suffering is a participation in Christ’s own death and resurrection. This hope is rooted in faith, as Paul emphasizes, quoting the psalmist: “I believed, and so I spoke.” This faith is not passive but active, compelling us to speak and act in a way that manifests the life of Jesus in our mortal flesh.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes us deeper into the heart of the law. He teaches that adultery is not just a physical act but also a matter of the heart. Looking at someone with lust is already adultery in God’s eyes. Similarly, He speaks about divorce, emphasizing the seriousness of such an act and its consequences. Jesus is not just interpreting the law; He is calling us to a higher standard of integrity and purity. This is not about legalism but about the transformation of the heart. Just as Paul speaks of carrying the death of Jesus in our bodies, Jesus here calls us to “cut off” whatever leads us to sin, even if it is as dear as a hand or an eye. This is radical, but it is the call to holiness.
These readings challenge us to examine our lives. Are we enduring trials with faith, trusting that God’s power shines through our weakness? Are we living with integrity, not just outwardly but inwardly? The moral lesson is clear: true Christianity is not about outward appearances but about the condition of the heart. It is about living in such a way that the life of Jesus is manifested in us, even in the midst of suffering. Let us ask for the grace to embrace this call to holiness, to trust in God’s power, and to live with hearts pure and true.