Mass Readings and Reflection for June 5th, 2026

First Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10–17

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119: Response: The lovers of your law have great peace, Lord.

Gospel: (Mark 12:35–37)

Reflection:

The Gospel passage of today may seem confusing. How does David, from whose lineage the Savior was to come, call his own descendant “Lord”?

Jesus presents a theological puzzle that reveals the mystery of His identity. He is both truly human and truly divine. He possesses two natures: a human nature and a divine nature.

By quoting Psalm 110, Jesus demonstrates that if the Messiah were merely a human descendant of David, David would not call him “Lord.” In Jewish culture, a father or ancestor was always considered greater than his descendants. Therefore, the Messiah could not be simply another earthly king. He had to be much more.

Jesus is indeed the Son of David according to His human lineage. Yet He is also David’s Lord according to His divine nature. Before David existed, Jesus already was. Before Abraham was, Jesus is. He is the eternal Son of God.

Thus, Jesus is both the root and the offspring of David. He came from David's line in His humanity, but He precedes David in His divinity.

This teaching also silenced the Pharisees and scribes, who expected a merely political or military Messiah who would restore Israel’s earthly kingdom. Jesus reveals that the Messiah is not only David’s Son but also David’s Lord.

By way of analogy, the biological father of a priest may call his own son “Father” because of the priest’s spiritual fatherhood. Yet the priest still calls him “Father” because of his biological relationship. In a similar way, Jesus is David’s Son according to the flesh and David’s Lord according to His divine nature.

The scribes emphasized Jesus’ humanity while rejecting His divinity. Therefore, Jesus used this Scripture to show that David himself acknowledged the Messiah as Lord.

Throughout Sacred Scripture, Jesus demonstrates both natures. He sleeps, eats, becomes hungry, and experiences thirst-signs of His humanity. He performs miracles, forgives sins, and exercises divine authority-signs of His divinity.

Therefore, this Gospel bears witness to the dual nature of Jesus Christ. He is truly God and truly man. He is David’s Son and David’s Lord. He possesses both a human nature and a divine nature united in one Person.

Let us pray that we may always worship Jesus Christ as He truly is: the God-Man, fully God and fully man, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.