Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 9, 2021
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 3.4-11
4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Psalm 99
1The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.2Great is the LORD in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.3Let them praise your great and awesome name- he is holy.4The King is mighty, he loves justice- you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.5Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.6Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them.7He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.8O LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.9Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
Gospel: Matthew 5.17-19
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we explore the transition from the old covenant to the new, and the enduring relevance of God’s law. Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, contrasts the ministry of the Spirit with the old covenant, emphasizing that while the old was glorious, the new covenant in the Spirit is even more so. He reminds us that our adequacy comes from God, not from ourselves, and that the Spirit brings life, whereas the letter alone kills. This message invites us to embrace the vibrant life offered by the Spirit.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He underscores the permanence of the law, stating that not even the smallest part will pass away until all is accomplished. This teaching challenges us to understand the law not as a set of rigid rules, but as a foundation fulfilled through love and grace. Jesus warns against loosening the commandments and promises greatness to those who both practice and teach them.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about legalistic observance but about living in the Spirit. The old covenant, with its written laws, was a stepping stone to the new covenant, where the Spirit writes God’s law on our hearts. As we navigate daily life, let us seek to live in the Spirit, allowing God’s grace to guide us. This means not just following rules, but embodying love, mercy, and grace. May we strive to live in a way that reflects the Spirit, fulfilling the law through our actions and teachings, and thus being great in the kingdom of heaven.