Daily Readings - Thu Jun 22 2023
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the simplicity and authenticity of our relationship with God and with others. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul expresses his deep concern for the Corinthian community, fearing that they might be led astray by false teachings. He humbly acknowledges his own limitations, particularly in speech, but emphasizes his commitment to the Gospel and his love for the community. Paul’s words reveal his jealousy for the Church—not out of pride, but out of a desire to protect the purity of the faith and ensure that the Corinthians remain rooted in the simplicity of Christ. His willingness to sacrifice and serve without burdening them demonstrates the depth of his love and his trust in God’s providence.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the nature of prayer. He warns against the kind of prayer that relies on many words, as if God’s attention can be won by human effort. Instead, Jesus offers the Lord’s Prayer, a model of simplicity and trust. This prayer is not about reciting formulas but about entering into a personal relationship with the Father, acknowledging His holiness, and seeking His will. The prayer also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness—both seeking it and offering it to others. Jesus makes it clear that our relationship with God is deeply tied to our relationships with one another.
These readings remind us that our faith is not about grand gestures or complex words but about simplicity, sincerity, and love. Like St. Paul, we are called to remain faithful to the Gospel and to serve others with humility and generosity. Like the Lord’s Prayer, our prayer should be rooted in trust and openness to God’s will. In our daily lives, let us strive to live with this kind of simplicity and authenticity. May we cultivate a deep trust in God’s providence, forgive one another as we seek forgiveness, and remain rooted in the love of Christ.