Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 11th Week in Ordinary Time – Saturday – Matthew 6:24-34

The daily Gospel reading from the Mass for Saturday of the 11th Week of Ordinary Time is Matt 6:24-34. 

After blessing the generations with His prayer  to the Father (the Our Father) and warning men to seek Heaven instead of the pleasures of the world, Christ continues His Sermon on the Mount by proclaiming the need to be exclusively committed to God, a faith so powerful as to overcome the common worries of worldly men. 

Christ refutes the delusion of a man’s independence, confirming that all men are under some kind of servitude. Men must choose between one of two masters. The first master, called “mammon” (a personification of “riches or wealth”) is a false god promoted by Satan; Satan desires men to pursue anything of the world, joining him in the rebellion against God. The second Master, God Almighty, is the True Master, the One who loves and cares for His men. Elsewhere, Christ confirms that men must choose: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters” (Matt 12:30). 

Having called men to submit to God as their Master, Christ denounces the worldly attachment that must be overcome through faith in God. Christ uses several arguments for rejecting worry about worldly things: the relative unimportance of worldly things (food, drink, clothing); the fact that God cares for lowly creatures and will care for His sons; the absolute futility of worry, especially about the future. Christ rebukes men of “little faith” who worry like faithless pagans. Instead, Christ challenges men to first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that God knows what men need and will provide.  

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ speaks authoritatively about how the Father engages the world and makes promises on the Father’s behalf.  Son of Man, Christ has a perfect knowledge of the dependence, trials and psychology of men.  Divine Teacher, Christ is the masterful orator whose words are still repeated today (e.g. God/mammon, lilies of the field). Divine King, referring to the Spiritual Combat, He reveals that men must choose between God and the world. 

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Marvel at Christ’s Divine Genius: He perfectly understands what torments men and He offers compelling logic and emotional motivation that continues to change men’s hearts 2000 years after the Incarnation.  

2) Modern men pursue “progress”, worrying about the world’s problems and foolishly relying on their own efforts rather than trusting in God. Reflect upon Divine Providence (CCC 302-324) and pray for Christ to help you accept the truth that God’s will is being done in the world and in your own life. 

3) Christ not only commands men to not be anxious, but He gives men the Our Father to help men grow in their trust in God.  Review the Catechism’s teaching on Give us today our daily bread (CCC 2828-2837) and pray the Our Father regularly that Christ might help you trust in Him to provide for your daily needs.