JUNE 12 Mon Weekday 2 Cor 1:1-7/Mt 5:1-12 

13 Tue St Anthony of Padua, Memorial 2 Cor 1:18-22/Mt 5:13-16 

14 Wed Weekday 2 Cor 3:4-11/Mt 5:17-19 

15 Thu Weekday 2 Cor 3:15—4:1, 3-6/Mt 5:20-26 

16 Fri  SACRED HEART OF JESUS Solemnity Dt 7:6-11/1 Jn 4:7-16/Mt 11:25-30 

17 Sat  Immaculate Heart of Mary 2 Cor 5:14-21 (364)/Lk 2:41-51

18 SUN 11th SUNDAY Ex 19:2-6a/Rom 5:6-11/Mt 9:36—10:8 

This week in the lectionary we begin reading for the next two weeks from the 2nd Letter of Paul to the Corinthians.

We’re also reading on weekdays from St. Matthew’s Gospel until the end of August, the Gospel of Mark during the week and begin reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel.

The liturgy broadens our spirituality. Following it each day brings its own treasure, not to be underestimated. The liturgical calendar calls us to explore, not only the various scriptures of the Old and New Testament, but also the gifts we’ve received from other times and places. 

St. Ephrem, named a doctor of the church in 1920, opens up the riches of the Syrian tradition to us. The feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Friday and Saturday) come from the spiritual reaction in 17th century Christian Europe against the cold moralism of Jansenism. 

Ephrem, writer of hymns and commentaries on the liturgy, explains what hidden treasures are found in liturgical prayer:

“Lord, who can comprehend even one of your words. We lose more of it than we can grasp, like those drinking from running waters. God’s word offers different facets, according to the listener; the Lord offers his word in many different colors. Whoever gazes on it, sees what he’s meant to see. Within are hidden many different treasures; those seeking find what makes them rich. 

The word of God is a tree of life that offers blessed fruit from each of its branches.  It is like that rock struck in the wilderness from which all drank. As the apostles says, ‘They all ate spiritual food and they all drank.’” (Commentary on the Diatesseron)  

Morning and Evening Prayer, Week 2