Daily Readings - Thu Jun 22 2023
2 Corinthians
1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.6But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.7Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
Matthew
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11Give us this day our daily bread.12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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.