Daily Readings - Thu Jun 17 2021
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 themes of authenticity and sincerity, guiding us to reflect on our faith and interactions with the divine. The first reading from 2 Corinthians finds Paul expressing deep concern for the Corinthian community, fearing they might be swayed by false teachings. He defends his ministry, highlighting his commitment and the sacrifices he made, including not burdening them financially. This context reveals Paul's genuine role as an apostle, striving to keep the community rooted in true faith amidst external influences.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching the disciples the Lord's Prayer during the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus emphasizes simplicity and sincerity in prayer, cautioning against the meaningless repetition seen in pagan practices. He underscores the importance of forgiveness, linking our forgiveness by God to our forgiveness of others. This teaching is set in the broader context of Jesus instructing his followers on how to live a life pleasing to God, focusing on the heart's intention rather than outward displays.
Both readings converge on the theme of authenticity. Paul's heartfelt defense of his ministry and Jesus's teachings on sincere prayer remind us to prioritize depth over superficiality. In our daily lives, this means engaging in prayer with intention and honesty, and nurturing our faith with authenticity. The moral lesson here is clear: our relationship with God and others should be marked by sincerity and a focus on what truly matters—living out God's will with genuine hearts.