THURSDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Gospel (Mt 6:7-15) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“If you forgive other their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” (Mt 6:14)

FIRST READING - 11:1-11

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters:

If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me!

Please put up with me.

For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God,

since I betrothed you to one husband

to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning,

your thoughts may be corrupted

from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ.

For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one 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 well enough.

For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these ""superapostles.""

Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge;

in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted,

because I preached the Gospel of God to you without charge?

I plundered other churches by accepting from them

in order to minister to you.

And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone,

for the brothers who came from Macedonia

supplied my needs.

So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.

By the truth of Christ in me,

this boast of mine shall not be silenced

in the regions of Achaia.

And why? Because I do not love you?

God knows I do!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 6:7-15

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:

"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,

who think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them.

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

'Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy Kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.'

"If you forgive others their transgressions,

your heavenly Father will forgive you.

But if you do not forgive others,

neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

THURSDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Gospel (Mt 6:7-15)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God tells us: Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in a way that pleases God the Father—through the Lord's Prayer. This is the only and most beautiful prayer that God the Father has given to mankind. God the Father teaches us that prayers are not just about asking for this, that, or our own needs or benefits. Instead, by reciting the Lord's Prayer, we praise, glorify, and honor Him.

Each day, people recite the Lord's Prayer and the Hail Mary continuously—not as a form of nagging, but as an expression of love and obedience. For those with a simple heart who love and follow God, they will understand how praying the Lord's Prayer continuously will please God the Father!

The Lord also reminds those who come to pray to God the Father: do not pray only for personal needs and benefits while forgetting the duty of praising and thanking God with the simple, sincere, and pure heart of a filial child toward a loving Father.

Today's Word of God also teaches us to pray continuously to God the Father through the Lord's Prayer. Jesus Christ Himself sets an example by constantly offering praise, glory, and thanks to God the Father through this prayer, and God the Father was greatly pleased.

Therefore, people should follow the example of Jesus Christ when praying to God the Father. Prayer is not primarily about asking for personal needs and benefits. Rather, it begins with giving thanks to God, proclaiming Him as our Father and the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things and all beings. For even before we come to Him in prayer, God already knows everything, and He knows what is best to give us.

So let us come to God with the simple heart of a child towards a loving Father. Let us humbly prostrate ourselves before Him, expressing our gratitude, confessing our sins, repenting for the ways we have displeased Him, and resolving to turn away from sin. In doing so, He will lovingly embrace us and give us what is truly best, for He knows what we need.

Come to God the Father with childlike simplicity, trust, and unwavering faith in His power and love. It is through this simple, trusting faith that human prayers are answered by God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 June 19th, 2025 - Prayer of Divine Mercy -The Way to Heaven