Daily Mass Readings – Wednesday, 7 June 2028

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus.

2 To Timothy my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that without ceasing, I have a remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day.

6 For which cause I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of sobriety.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but labour with the gospel, according to the power of God,

9 Who hath delivered us and called us by his holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the times of the world.

10 But is now made manifest by the illumination of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath destroyed death, and hath brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel:

11 Wherein I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For which cause I also suffer these things: but I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that day.

R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

1b To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven.

2ab Behold as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters.

R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

2cdef As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us.

R. To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

25a, 26 I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

18 And there came to him the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying:

19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, that if any man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

20 Now there were seven brethren; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no issue.

21 And the second took her, and died: and neither did he leave any issue. And the third in like manner.

22 And the seven all took her in like manner; and did not leave issue. Last of all the woman also died.

23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise again, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

24 And Jesus answering, saith to them: Do ye not therefore err, because you know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?

25 For when they shall rise again from the dead, they shall neither marry, nor be married, but are as the angels in heaven.

26 And as concerning the dead that they rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You therefore do greatly err.

Jesus exposes the narrowness of a faith that tries to fit God’s future into the limits of present arrangements. The Sadducees imagine resurrection as a continuation of earthly life on familiar terms, but Christ reveals something greater: God is the God of the living, and those who rise will share a transformed life in his presence. The resurrection is not a puzzle to be solved by human calculations; it rests on the power and faithfulness of God.

That same confidence runs through Paul’s words. He has suffered for the Gospel, yet he is not ashamed, because he knows the One in whom he has believed. Timothy is urged to stir up the grace already given to him, since God has given a spirit of power, love, and self-control rather than fear. With the psalmist, we lift our eyes to the Lord and wait for his mercy. Christian courage does not come from knowing every detail of what lies ahead. It comes from entrusting ourselves to the God who has destroyed death in Christ and who holds our life securely. Today, that trust can shape the way we face uncertainty, witness to the Gospel, and serve with love.

God of the living, lift my eyes toward you when fear narrows my vision or uncertainty makes me cling to what I can understand. Deepen my faith in the resurrection of Jesus, and help me trust your power beyond the limits of this present life. Stir up the grace you have placed within me, so that I may serve with courage, love, and sober judgment. Keep me from being ashamed of the Gospel, and teach me to wait for your mercy with the faithful attention of a servant. Hold all that I entrust to you, now and forever. Amen.