Daily Readings - Thu Jun 21 2018
Matthew
7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.11Give us today our daily bread.12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, prayer, and our relationship with God. The first reading from Sirach extols the prophet Elijah, a figure of great zeal and faithfulness. Elijah’s life was marked by extraordinary deeds—calling down fire from heaven, raising the dead, and standing firm against sin. Yet, the passage also highlights his humanity, emphasizing that he was a man like us, subject to the same struggles and vulnerabilities. His legacy, however, is one of hope and restoration, as he was taken up in a whirlwind, leaving behind a spirit that would animate his successor, Elisha. Elijah’s story reminds us that even in our imperfections, God can work through us in extraordinary ways.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus’ teaching on prayer. He warns against the kind of prayer that relies on empty repetition, as if God can be swayed by the sheer volume of words. Instead, Jesus offers the Lord’s Prayer as a model of simplicity and depth. This prayer is not about getting what we want but about aligning our wills with God’s. It emphasizes 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. If we withhold forgiveness from others, we cannot expect to receive it from God.
These readings invite us to reflect on the authenticity of our faith and prayer. Elijah’s story shows us that even the greatest saints are human and that God’s power shines through their weaknesses. The Lord’s Prayer, on the other hand, calls us to humility and sincerity in our relationship with God. Together, they remind us that prayer is not about performance but about connection—connection with God and with others. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to pray with hearts that are open, honest, and forgiving, trusting that God’s will be done in us and through us.