10th Week in Ordinary Time
12th June 2023 (Monday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (R. 9a)
R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Gospel : Matthew 5:1-12
At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: God who encourages!
Indicative: It is true that in our life we have situations that discourage us. But today we are encouraged by the fact that our God is always a God of encouragement{alertSuccess}
1. In our present times, disappointment and discouragement are quite rampant. No one is exempt from this, whether poor or rich, clever or uneducated, high status or low. Many lose a sense of meaning and happiness in life because of discouragement.
2. What can be the causes and reasons for this sense of discouragement? Discouragement is due to the experience of failure, especially failure in getting what is expected or due. Thus this failure is often connected to material or intellectual inadequacy or social standing concerning power and position.
3. But as people of faith and depth, the root cause for all discouragement is a lack of deep faith in God. This may look simply spiritualizing. But this is the fact. When we are not strong in faith, we will be easily discouraged.
4. This is very clear in the convinced words of St Paul: Our God is a God of encouragement who always encourages us, especially in every affliction.
5. The beatitudes in the gospel are the most concrete and authentic means and expressions of encouragement. All these mandates or norms are demanding and certainly, lead to situations of affliction in the world because the world has a different set of norms and means.
6. But those who follow the beatitudes obtain God’s greatest encouragement in the form of blessedness and eternal life itself. They are not just self-confined individual gains. They become integrally altruistic.
7. The encouragement of God that encourages those who follow his beatitudes overflows to others to encourage them in their afflictions.
Imperative: The world of today that suffers under the yoke of discouragement needs the relieving and healing touch of Christ. And we are to be those channels through the beatitudes{alertSuccess}