Daily Readings - Thu Jun 22 2023
2 Corinthians
1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that.2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.5But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles."6I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.7Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?8I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.9And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
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
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.