Daily Readings - Tue Jun 20 2023
2 Corinthians
1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.7But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Matthew
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of grace and the call to live beyond our own limitations. In the second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul commends the churches of Macedonia for their extraordinary generosity. Despite their poverty and tribulations, they gave abundantly, even beyond their means, because they had given themselves first to the Lord. Their example challenges us to consider how we respond to God’s grace in our own lives. Do we allow God’s grace to overflow in acts of love and generosity, or do we hold back, limited by our own fears and calculations?
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this idea a step further by calling us to love not just those who love us, but even our enemies. This is a radical challenge, one that goes against our natural instincts. Jesus reminds us that if we only love those who love us, we are no different from the pagans. True discipleship requires us to imitate God’s universal love, which extends to all people, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. This kind of love is not about feelings but about choices—choosing to pray for those who persecute us, to do good to those who hate us, and to greet all people with kindness.
Both readings point us to the same truth: the Christian life is a life of grace and self-giving love. The Macedonians’ generosity flowed from their encounter with God’s grace, and Jesus’ command to love our enemies is only possible when we allow God’s grace to transform our hearts. As we strive to live this way, we become more like our heavenly Father, who causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on both the just and the unjust. Let us ask for the grace to go beyond our own limits, to love as God loves, and to give as God gives—freely, abundantly, and without reserve.