SATURDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Mt 6:24-34 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of ítelf. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

(Mt 6:34)

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Second Book of Chronicles

2 Chr 24:17-25

After the death of Jehoiada,

the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash,

and the king then listened to them.

They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers,

and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols;

and because of this crime of theirs,

wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD,

the people would not listen to their warnings.

Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah,

son of Jehoiada the priest.

He took his stand above the people and said to them:

"God says, 'Why are you transgressing the LORD's commands,

so that you cannot prosper?

Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.'"

But they conspired against him,

and at the king's order they stoned him to death

in the court of the LORD's temple.

Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him

by Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, and slew his son.

And as Zechariah was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge."

At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash.

They invaded Judah and Jerusalem,

did away with all the princes of the people,

and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.

Though the Aramean force came with few men,

the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power,

because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers.

So punishment was meted out to Joash.

After the Arameans had departed from him,

leaving him in grievous suffering,

his servants conspired against him

because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest.

He was buried in the City of David,

but not in the tombs of the kings.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Mt 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:

"No one can serve two masters.

He will either hate one and love the other,

or be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or drink,

or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky;

they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are not you more important than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Why are you anxious about clothes?

Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.

They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor

was clothed like one of them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field,

which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,

will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?'

or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'

All these things the pagans seek.

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 given you besides.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

SATURDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Mt 6:24-34

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In the Word of God of today, God the Father calls humanity to be awakened to the temptations of Satan, for they will deceive the children of God the Father into submitting and respecting the wealth and material things of this world.

They become our masters and thereby forget God the Father, the One who is rich in love, the One who can do everything, and the One who gives the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven to humans.

Satan is a liar. They will not bring life and happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven to humanity! Therefore, God the Father calls humans must be awakened to return to God the Father,

to be rich before God the Father by living righteously, charitably, lovingly, and forgiving.

He calls us to sacrifice, be patient, and endure each other so that the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven will be given to humanity. Only God the Father is the One who gives all blessings to humans. He will also give other things so that human life can develop in this world and in the Kingdom of Heaven in the future.

God the Father also calls humanity to listen and practice God's teachings today, which is to trust and rely on the power, love, and mercy of God the Father. He will provide all that is necessary to nourish the body and soul of humankind, but on the condition that humans must live with justice, charity, and love, hoping for a life in the Kingdom of Heaven in the future.

Therefore, always accumulate treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven to nourish our body and soul, by loving God the Father above all things and loving others as ourselves.

Follow the commandments that God has taught us, and then the peace and happiness of God the Father will spread to us. Otherwise, Satan will come to steal the soul, and then humanity will be immersed in the passion of sin and lust of this world. And in the end, humans will fall into eternal death along with Satan.

In God's Word today, God the Father calls humans to be awakened to believe and trust in Him and to love God the Father, the One who is rich in mercy and the One who gives all blessings.

Practice justice and charity. Seek the Kingdom of Heaven by living a life of love, purity, and clarity through hope, faith, and absolute trust in the love of God the Father. Trust and rely on Him. Have absolute confidence that He will nourish our bodies and souls according to His will.

Thanks be to God. Amen.