Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 14, 2019
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4.7-15
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.
Psalm 116
1I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.2Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.3The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.4Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"5The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.6The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.7Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.8For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,9that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.10I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."11And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."12How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD 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 your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.17I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.18I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,19in the courts of the house of the LORD - in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 5.27-32
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.