Daily Readings for June 16, 2017

1ST READING

One of the great mysteries of the Gospel is that God would choose to use us to spread the Gospel message to the ends of the earth. We have demonstrated our sinfulness and unworthiness to do this task and yet God still chooses to make us conduits of the Good News of salvation. Perhaps He does so to remind us of our fragility – that we hold such a beautiful and life-giving message in fragile hands. Whatever His reason is, it is certainly a humbling experience.

2 Corinthians 4:7-15

7 Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we too believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. 15 Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

P S A L M

Psalm 116:10-11, 15-16, 17-18

R: To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

10 I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “No man is dependable.” (R) 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. (R) 17 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. (R)

GOSPEL

Controlling our desires is essential to our holiness. Our refusal to dwell in sinful desires is so important in overcoming the work of sin in our lives. If we allow disordered desires to control our minds, we are opening our hearts to sin. If we cannot control our thoughts, we are going to find it impossible to control our actions as well. Let us keep this in mind whenever we are tempted by a disordered or unholy thought.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life.

Matthew 5:27-32

27 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. 28 But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. 31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. 32 But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”