Daily Readings - Thu Jun 19 2025
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
In today’s readings, we hear St. Paul expressing his deep concern for the Corinthians, fearing that they might be led astray by false teachings. He reminds them of his own sacrifices and dedication, emphasizing that he has not burdened them financially, relying instead on the support of other communities. Paul’s words reveal his jealousy for the Church—not out of selfishness, but out of a profound love for their spiritual well-being. He wants them to remain pure and faithful to the Gospel he preached, untainted by the cleverness of the serpent or the allure of false gospels.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the nature of prayer. He warns against the kind of prayer that relies on many words, like the pagans who think that quantity of speech will ensure they are heard. Instead, Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer, a simple yet profound model of how to approach God. He emphasizes that our Father already knows what we need before we ask, so our prayer should be one of trust, simplicity, and sincerity. The Lord’s Prayer is not just a formula but a way of life: seeking the Father’s will, asking for daily bread, and forgiving others as we seek forgiveness. Jesus makes it clear that our relationship with God is deeply tied to our relationships with others—forgiveness is not optional but essential for receiving God’s mercy.
These readings remind us of the importance of authenticity in our faith and relationships. Like Paul, we are called to be pure and steadfast in our commitment to Christ, avoiding the temptations and deceptions of the world. Like the Lord’s Prayer, our prayer life should be rooted in simplicity, trust, and a willingness to forgive. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to imitate Paul’s zeal for the Gospel and Jesus’ teachings on prayer. May our hearts remain pure, our prayers be sincere, and our lives be marked by forgiveness and love. In doing so, we will draw closer to God and reflect His truth and mercy to the world around us.