Tuesday June 4, 2024
Weekday (9)
Office: Psalter Week 1
Mass and Preface of the day
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
FIRST READNG
“We wait for new heavens and a new earth.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Peter (2 Peter 3:12- 15a.17-18)
Beloved: Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 90:2.3-4.10.14 and 16 (R. 1)
R/. O Lord, you have been our refuge, from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were born,
or the earth or the world were brought forth,
you are God, from age to age. R/.
You turn man back to dust,
and say, “Return, O children of men.”
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
or like a watch in the night. R/.
R/. O Lord, you have been our refuge, from generation to generation.
Seventy years is the span of our days,
or eighty if we are strong.
And most of these are toil and pain.
They pass swiftly and we are gone. R/.
At dawn, fill us with your mercifiil love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let your deed be seen by your servants,
and your glorious power by their children. R/.
ALLELUIA Ephesians 1:17-18
Alleluia. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars’, and to God the things that are God’s.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 12: 13-17)
At that time: They sent to Jesus some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to entrap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
‘What belongs to Caesar is Caesar’s and what belongs to God is God’s was the implication of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and Herodians. If a book that belongs to me was lost but found by someone else who knew me; the book should be returned to me because it belongs to me. Jesus answered his detractors correctly and escaped their trap. Sometimes, we tend to mix up things that should not be mixed up in relation to our Christian faith. Syncretism is practiced by many Christians who have refused to give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God, what belongs to God. We cannot be and not be at the same times. Our love of God, which is to established in our love for our neighbour must be genuine. It is only when we are able to give to God what belongs to God that our waiting for the new heaven and new earth would be meaningful and realizable. We pray for the grace to be watchful and diligent like Saint Boniface.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
– Reject every form of life that still makes you appear as a hypocrite before the Lord.
Let Us Pray,
(Prayer of St. Benedict)
Gracious and holy Father, please give me: intellect to understand you, reason to discern you; diligence to seek you; wisdom to find you; a spirit to know you; a heart to meditate upon you; ears to hear you; eyes to see you; a tongue to proclaim you; a way of life pleasing to you; patience to wait for you; and perseverance to look for you. Grant me: a perfect end, your holy presence.A blessed resurrection, and life everlasting.
