Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 3, 2021
First Reading: Tobit 4.20; 5.4; 6.10-11b; 7.1, 9-16; 8.1, 4-9
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Psalm 128
1Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.2You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.4Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.5May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,6and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.
Gospel: Mark 12.28-34
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."32"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons about love and faith. The story of Tobias and Sarah from the Book of Tobit illustrates a marriage rooted in prayer and trust in God. With the guidance of an angel, Tobias and Sarah commit to each other, dedicating their union to God through heartfelt prayers. This narrative highlights the importance of seeking divine guidance and maintaining fidelity in relationships.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus teaches that the greatest commandments are to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This exchange with a scribe underscores that true devotion to God is inseparable from our treatment of others. Jesus' words remind us that love is the cornerstone of our faith, transcending even sacrifices and rituals.
These readings beautifully intertwine, showing that all love—whether romantic or fraternal—should be grounded in our love for God. Just as Tobias and Sarah prayed together, we too are called to integrate faith into our relationships and actions. Let us strive to embody Jesus' teachings by prioritizing love for God and neighbor, allowing this divine love to guide our commitments and interactions in daily life.