Daily Readings - Thu Jun 20 2019
2 Corinthians
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
Matthew
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 profound lessons on faith and prayer. The first reading from 2 Corinthians finds Paul expressing his deep concern for the Corinthian community, fearing they may be swayed by false teachings. He emphasizes his commitment to them, highlighting his selfless service and refusal to be a burden, underscoring the authenticity of his apostleship. In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer, instructing them on sincere and simple prayer, contrasting it with the empty repetitions of the pagans. He also stresses the crucial role of forgiveness in prayer.
The context of these readings reveals Paul’s passionate defense of his ministry, ensuring the Corinthians remain faithful to the true Gospel amidst potential deception. His jealousy is not of selfishness but of a father’s care for his spiritual children. In Matthew, Jesus shifts the focus from the quantity of words to the quality of prayer, teaching that true prayer is heartfelt and trusting in God’s providence. The emphasis on forgiveness ties both readings together, illustrating that genuine faith is lived out in both our relationship with God and our interactions with others.
Applying these teachings to our daily lives, we are reminded to stay vigilant in our faith, mindful of influences that could lead us astray. Our prayers should be sincere, not merely recitations, and forgiveness should be a cornerstone of our relationships. The moral lesson here is the importance of authenticity and forgiveness. Like Paul, we should embody our faith through selfless actions, and like Jesus taught, our prayers should reflect a genuine connection with God, always seeking to forgive and be forgiven.