Daily Readings - Thu Jun 22 2017

First Reading - 2 Corinthians 11.1-11

¹I wish that you would endure a small amount of my foolishness, so as to bear with me²For I am jealous toward you, with the jealousy of God. And I have espoused you to one husband, offering you as a chaste virgin to Christ³But I am afraid lest, as the serpent led astray Eve by his cleverness, so your minds might be corrupted and might fall away from the simplicity which is in Christ⁴For if anyone arrives preaching another Christ, one whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, one whom you have not received; or another Gospel, one which you have not been given: you might permit him to guide you⁵For I consider that I have done nothing less than the great Apostles⁶For although I may be unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge. But, in all things, we have been made manifest to you⁷Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you would be exalted? For I preached the Gospel of God to you freely⁸I have taken from other churches, receiving a stipend from them to the benefit of your ministry⁹And when I was with you and in need, I was burdensome to no one. For the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied whatever was lacking to me. And in all things, I have kept myself, and I will keep myself, from being burdensome to you¹⁰The truth of Christ is in me, and so this glorying shall not be broken away from me in the regions of Achaia¹¹Why so? Is it because I do not love you? God knows I do

Gospel - Matthew 6.7-15

Matthew

Chapter 6

⁷And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded⁸Therefore, do not choose to imitate them. For your Father knows what your needs may be, even before you ask him⁹Therefore, you shall pray in this way: Our Father, who is in heaven: May your name be kept holy¹⁰May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth¹¹Give us this day our life-sustaining bread¹²And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors¹³And lead us not into temptation. But free us from evil. Amen¹⁴For if you will forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father also will forgive you your offenses¹⁵But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your sins

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that guide us in our faith journey. The First Reading from 2 Corinthians finds Paul expressing deep concern for the Corinthians, fearing they might be swayed by false teachings. He emphasizes his commitment to them, highlighting his humility and the sacrifices he’s made, ensuring he didn’t burden them financially. Paul’s jealousy for them is rooted in God, desiring their unwavering fidelity to the true Gospel. In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer, a model of simplicity and sincerity. He warns against the superficiality of pagan prayers, which rely on many words. Jesus’ prayer is a beautiful example of worship, petition, forgiveness, and protection. He underscores the importance of forgiveness, stating that our ability to forgive others directly affects God’s forgiveness of us. These readings remind us to guard against superficiality in our faith and prayer. Paul’s sincerity in his mission and Jesus’ emphasis on heartfelt prayer encourage us to stay grounded in the Gospel. In our daily lives, we must be cautious of influences that might lead us astray and cultivate an authentic prayer life. Forgiveness is crucial, as it reflects God’s mercy and is essential for our spiritual well-being. Let us strive for sincerity in our faith and relationships, remembering that true prayer and forgiveness are cornerstones of a vibrant spiritual life.