Daily Readings - Sat Jun 22 2019
2 Corinthians
1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.3And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--4was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Matthew
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between weakness, trust, and the pursuit of God’s will. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of his own struggles and the revelations he received, yet he humbly acknowledges his limitations. He shares that he petitioned the Lord to remove a “thorn in the flesh,” but instead of relief, he received the assurance that God’s grace is sufficient. This profound lesson teaches us that our weaknesses are not obstacles but opportunities for God’s power to shine through us. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us against divided loyalties and anxiety about material needs. He encourages us to trust in God’s providence, pointing to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of His care. Jesus reminds us that seeking first the kingdom of God and His justice should be our priority, for all else will be given to us as well.
Both readings call us to reorient our lives toward trust and dependence on God. Paul’s willingness to embrace his infirmities and Jesus’ teachings on not worrying about tomorrow remind us that true strength lies not in self-reliance but in surrender. When we let go of the need to control every aspect of our lives, we open ourselves to the transformative power of grace. This does not mean we should be passive or irresponsible but rather that we should cultivate a deep trust that God is always at work, even in the midst of challenges.
As we apply these teachings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I holding on to anxiety or fear? Where am I trying to rely solely on my own strength? Let us remember that God’s grace is sufficient for us, just as it was for Paul. Let us seek to live with simplicity, trusting that our heavenly Father knows what we need. By prioritizing the kingdom of God and His justice, we align our hearts with His will, and we find peace in the midst of life’s uncertainties.