Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection June 21, 2025
Saturday – 11th Week in Ordinary Time
21st June 2025 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Brethren: I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Psalm 34:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 R.(9a)
R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – 11th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Anxiety is a dominant human phenomenon that rules life. It is natural and understandable. But the real question is about what and to what extent this anxiety is
1. Life on this earth is often wrapped in much worry and anxiety. Perhaps there is no sphere of life that is exempted from this. As humans on this earth, surely there are many needs, concerns and difficulties. In that sense, surely we feel anxious since everything is not totally in our hands and is subject to many factors. There are duties to fulfill, tasks to perform, troubles to confront, afflictions to bear, perplexities to make sense, challenges to address, and problems to overcome.
2. But often the problem is, this anxiety is about the secondary or even worthless and destructive things. And it is exaggerated. Often, many are anxious about the physical and material things like food, drink, cloth, and money. Today the Lord is exhorting us that such anxiety is not right because it does no good.
3. No one can change a situation or resolve a problem by being anxious about it. More than this reason, we need not excessively bother about anything because our God is a loving, caring and providential Father. He knows what we need, He knows the struggles of this life, and He also knows the human cravings.
4. Therefore, why be over anxious when God is there to take control of everything? Left to ourselves, we are weak, as St Paul admits in the first reading from 2 Cor 12. 1-10. But, our weakness is supplied with enormous strength from God. Our weakness is turned into strength because of the surpassing grace of God.
5. It is not that we become complacent with our human weakness. Rather our fragility accepted in humility becomes an entrance and opportunity for God’s grace to work on our weakness. Thus, when we are weak, then we are strong.
6. Therefore, it is better to surrender everything to God. It is wise to clarify the scale of priorities. We need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The logic is simple: if we take care of God’s concerns, God will certainly take care of our valid concerns.
My Practice: We never lack God’s grace. It is always available and abundant. It is never less but always more than enough. What is important is that we join our human fragility with His divine nobility and cooperate with His grace
