Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 21, 2025
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 12.1-10
1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.3And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--4was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Psalm 34
1I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.2My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.3Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.4I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.6This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.9Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.14Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;16the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.19A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;20he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.21Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Gospel: Matthew 6.24-34
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound reflections on trust and surrender to God’s providence. The first reading from 2 Corinthians finds Paul recounting his mystical experiences, yet he quickly shifts focus to his weaknesses and the grace of God that sustains him. He describes how he pleaded with the Lord to remove a trial, only to hear the reassuring words, “My grace is sufficient for you.” This humility and trust in God’s plan, despite suffering, are central to Paul’s message. The Gospel from Matthew continues this theme, as Jesus teaches His disciples not to be consumed by anxiety about material needs. He invites them to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, which are cared for by God, and to trust that their heavenly Father will provide for them as well. Jesus emphasizes that true freedom comes from seeking the Kingdom of God first and trusting in His goodness.
The readings are deeply connected in their call to trust in God’s providence. Paul’s willingness to glory in his weaknesses rather than his strengths reflects a radical reliance on God’s grace. Similarly, Jesus’ teaching challenges us to let go of our obsession with security and control, instead placing our hope in the Father’s care. Both readings remind us that true strength lies not in self-sufficiency but in surrendering our fears and anxieties to God. This is not an invitation to passivity but to a deeper faith that recognizes God’s presence and action in all things.
How can we apply this to our daily lives? So often, we are tempted to rely on our own efforts and resources, or we become overwhelmed by worries about the future. These readings invite us to reorient our hearts. When we face challenges or uncertainties, let us remember Paul’s words: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” And when anxiety creeps in, let us recall Jesus’ gentle assurance that our Father knows what we need. By seeking first the Kingdom of God, we are not neglecting our responsibilities but rather placing them in the hands of the One who cares for us more than we can imagine. In this way, we find true peace and freedom, even in the midst of life’s trials.