Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 6, 2020
First Reading: 2 Timothy 4.1-8
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Psalm 71
1In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.2Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me.3Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.4Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.5For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.6From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.7I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.8My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.9Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.10For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.11They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him."12Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.13May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.14But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.15My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.16I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.17Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.19Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?20Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.21You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.22I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed.24My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.
Gospel: Mark 12.38-44
38As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces,39and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.40They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of living out our faith with authenticity and integrity. The first reading from 2 Timothy urges us to preach the Word of God with urgency and patience, even when it is difficult. St. Paul emphasizes the need to remain faithful to our mission, despite the challenges and pressures of the world around us. He warns that there will be times when people prefer false teachings over the truth, but we must remain steadfast in proclaiming the Gospel. The reading concludes with Paul’s personal testimony of perseverance, having “fought the good fight” and remained faithful until the end.
The Gospel from Mark complements this message by highlighting the contrast between outward piety and true devotion. Jesus criticizes the scribes who seek recognition and status through their religious practices, while neglecting the substance of their faith. He then points to the poor widow who, despite her poverty, gives everything she has to God. Her small coins may seem insignificant, but in God’s eyes, they are worth more than the large offerings of the wealthy because they represent total surrender and trust in God’s providence.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and how we live out our faith. Are we like the scribes, focusing on appearances rather than the depth of our commitment? Or are we like the widow, giving generously and trusting in God’s plan? Let us strive to live with authenticity, embracing the call to proclaim the Gospel with courage and humility. May we also learn to give freely, not just from our abundance, but from our very selves, recognizing that true faith is measured not by what we have, but by how we surrender it to God.