Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 4, 2021
First Reading: Tobit 11.5-15
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Psalm 146
1Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.2I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.3Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.4When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,6the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- the LORD, who remains faithful forever.7He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,8the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.9The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.10The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 12.35-37
35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David?36David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."'37David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, healing, and the mystery of God’s identity. In the first reading from Tobit, we witness the dramatic healing of Tobit’s blindness. Tobias, guided by the angel Raphael, uses the gall of a fish to restore his father’s sight. This story is not just about physical healing but also about the restoration of hope and faith in God’s providence. Tobit’s journey from darkness to light mirrors our own spiritual journeys, where God often works through unexpected means to bring us closer to Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the understanding of the Messiah’s identity. He quotes Psalm 110, where David calls the Messiah “Lord,” prompting the question of how the Messiah can be David’s son if David himself refers to Him as Lord. This exchange highlights the paradox of Jesus’ divine and human nature. It reminds us that God’s ways are not bound by human logic or expectations. Just as Tobit’s healing defied natural explanations, Jesus’ identity as both Son of David and Lord of all transcends human understanding.
These readings call us to embrace faith in the face of uncertainty and to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems inexplicable. Like Tobit, we may find ourselves in dark or challenging situations, but God is always at work, bringing light and healing in ways we least expect. And like the crowd in the temple, we are invited to ponder the mystery of God’s nature and to surrender our limited understanding to His divine wisdom. May we, like Tobias, act with faith and trust, knowing that God’s power can transform even the darkest corners of our lives.