Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 13, 2020
First Reading: 1 Kings 19.16b, 19-21
16Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.19So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.20Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you.Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"21So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
Psalm 16
1Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.2I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."3As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.4The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.5LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.7I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.8I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,10because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.11You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Gospel: Matthew 5.33-37
33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Kings 19:16b-21 tells the story of Elisha's call to prophethood by Elijah. Elisha, while engaged in his daily work, is abruptly called by Elijah, who symbolically passes on his mantle. Elisha, after a brief farewell to his family, leaves his life behind to follow Elijah, demonstrating a radical commitment to God's call. This act of surrender and trust in God's plan is a powerful example of discipleship, showing that following God requires readiness to let go of worldly attachments.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 5:33-37 presents Jesus' teaching on the importance of integrity in speech. Jesus emphasizes that our words should be truthful and straightforward, without the need for oaths. He warns against the tendency to seek validation through swearing, which can lead to insincerity. Jesus teaches that our "Yes" should mean "Yes" and our "No" should mean "No," reflecting a life of honesty and simplicity. This lesson underscores the value of living with integrity, where our actions and words align with our commitment to follow God's will.
These readings connect through the themes of commitment and integrity. Elisha's immediate response to Elijah's call mirrors the kind of wholehearted dedication Jesus expects from His followers. Similarly, Jesus' teaching on truthful speech calls us to live with authenticity, reflecting the integrity that should mark our lives as Christians. In our daily lives, we are challenged to respond to God's call with courage and to speak with honesty, ensuring that our words and actions consistently reflect our faith. Let us strive to follow God wholeheartedly and live with the integrity that honors Him.