Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 14, 2021
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 6.1-10
1As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.2For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.3We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;5in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Psalm 98
1Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.2The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.3He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.4Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;5make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,6with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn- shout for joy before the LORD, the King.7Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.8Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy;9let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Gospel: Matthew 5.38-42
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are presented with powerful lessons on how to navigate life’s challenges with faith and grace. The first reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that as ministers of God, we are called to endure hardships with patience and integrity. Paul lists various trials—tribulation, imprisonment, rebellion—and counters them with qualities like chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering. The key is not just enduring but doing so in a way that reflects our holy character. The Gospel from Matthew, part of the Sermon on the Mount, challenges us to rethink our approach to conflict. Jesus teaches us to go beyond non-retaliation, to offer the other cheek, and to give more than what is demanded. This is a call to radical love, breaking the cycle of vengeance and retribution.
The context of these readings is crucial. In Corinthians, Paul addresses a community facing persecution and internal strife, urging them to remain faithful. In Matthew, Jesus challenges traditional notions of justice, shifting from retribution to mercy. Together, these readings present a comprehensive approach to adversity: enduring suffering with grace and responding to evil with love. This dual focus—endurance and love—guides us in our daily struggles, whether personal or interpersonal.
Applying these teachings to our lives, we are encouraged to handle stress and difficult relationships with patience and kindness. By enduring hardships with integrity and responding to challenges with love, we embody Christ’s teachings. The moral lesson is clear: our response to life’s trials should reflect our faith, allowing us to be effective ministers of God’s grace in the world. Through this, we not only navigate life’s challenges but also become beacons of hope and love.