Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection June 18, 2025
Wednesday – 11th Week in Ordinary Time
18th June 2025 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Brethren: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Psalm 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 9 R.(1b)
R/. Blessed the man who fears the Lord
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – 11th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Seeking recognition and reward for one’s goodness or good works may be natural to some extent, but an excess seeking would make even the good a shallow show
1. There are some who are indifferent and are not engaged in doing good works or spiritual practices. But there are some others who may actively do something good and spiritual, but with an impure motive of seeking recognition and applause. This takes away the merit and beauty of their good practice.
2. Jesus in the gospel warns of such people especially in reference to prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, which are the three fundamental pillars of the religion. They are praiseworthy and highly recommendable. But the fault is doing them with an impure heart with a lot of negativities and without any desire and decision to change for the better.
3. We must always remember that ultimately all our external practices must deepen our interior purity leading to a clean and selfless action and living. In this context, we must constantly check and see whether our prayers are helping us to grow in the spirit of closeness and communion with God, surrender, and loyalty to Him, in dedication and witness to Him;
4. whether our almsgiving fosters in us a consistent spirit of sensitivity and charity towards the needs and difficulties of others; whether our fasting enhances the spirit of self-discipline and restraint within us.
5. All our spiritual or good activities must proceed from a heart that is genuine and gives generously and cheerfully. They must be products of an abundant harvest of righteousness. We must bear in mind that we receive as we give. If we give generously, we will also receive abundantly. If we give only little and that too reluctantly, we will also receive little.
6. That is why, St Paul affirms: he who sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. God loves a cheerful giver and He will enrich in every way every great generosity.
My Practice: It is not proper to disregard and discard all religious practices, arguing that they are not bringing out any concrete change of life, or that the spirit and heart are more important than all the formal actions. It is better that both the interior purification and exterior transformation take place
