The Lord's Prayer

First Reading: 2 Cor 11:1-11
Psalm: Ps 111:1b-4, 7-8 -- Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth
Gospel: Mt 6:7-15

Friends,

I'm going to try something a little different today, as our reading is the best-known prayer in all of Christendom.

Our Father
- But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' - John 20:17b

who art in Heaven,
- But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne - Matthew 5:34

hallowed be thy name,
- The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. - Luke 1:49

thy Kingdom come,
- From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4:17

thy will be done,
- The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD! - Job 1:21b

on earth as it is in heaven.
- Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever." - Revelation 5:13

Give us this day our daily bread,
- He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'" - Matthew 4:4

and forgive us our trespasses,
- He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." - Luke 7:48

as we forgive those who trespass against us;
- When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions. - Mark 11:25

and lead us not into temptation,
- No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. - James 1:7

but deliver us from evil.
- They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. - Jeremiah 1:19

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of this day. We thank you for teaching us how we are to pray. May our lives be a prayer to you and give glory to your holy name. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Theatrics

First Reading: 2 Cor 9:6-11
Psalm: Ps 112:1bc-4, 9 -- Blessed the man who fears the Lord
Gospel: Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. - Matthew 6:1

Friends,

When you were young, did you ever wait until your parents were around before cleaning your room, or hint to them that they should notice you did the dishes? I can recall a good many instances when I would drop not-so-subtle hints to my parents that I had done my chores without even being asked. I might have done it a few weeks ago when installing a few things around the house.

In today's gospel, Jesus gives us three examples of the "hypocrites", doing works in order to be seen. He is not criticizing them for doing the works, but that they waited to do them until someone was watching. In fact, in each of the cases, the hypocrites are drawing attention to themselves. They want to be congratulated, to be seen as people who give large sums, or are very pious. The important thing to them is to get the attention and approval of those around them, not the care of the poor or the state of their relationship with God.

It is not wrong to want recognition for our hard work. On the contrary, Jesus tells us that the Father sees all that we do, and will reward us accordingly. However, when we are seeking the recognition of our neighbors when we do our work, we lose sight of the reason the work is good. In other words, we need to do our work for the work's sake, because it needs to be done, and not because we seek to gain from it. When we volunteer for the soup kitchen, do we do it so that we may boast of our generosity, or so that the poor might be fed? When we do a small task for a family member, are we doing it out of our love for them, or for a mere material reward? If we do not get the reward we want, are we likely to help out again?

It is only when we humbly put away our theatrics designed to garner us praises that we can truly focus on what we are doing and why we are doing it. If we are always busy acting out a part, it will be very difficult to give our attention to the task at hand. Then, in one of the great ironies of the world, we will receive recognition for our work from our fellows. History shows us that our saints and great leaders are men and women who put all of their efforts into devotion or good works, but cared very little about the recognition of their peers. Do not seek recognition for your work; be content with doing work that is worthy of being recognized.

Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Thank you for the teachings that you have given us. Help us to more frequently understand the wisdom of it. Lord, grant that we might be freed from our pride; that we let go of our selfish desire for the admiration of our neighbor and give us a heart that longs only for you. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Generosity

First Reading: 2 Cor 8:1-9
Psalm: Ps 146:2, 5-9a -- Praise the Lord, my soul!
Gospel: Mt 5:43-48

I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. - 2 Corinthians 8:8

Friends,

In today's reading, we hear Paul sharing the deeds of those in Macedonia (modern-day Greece). Specifically, he is telling the Corinthians of the donations made to the community in the holy lands. He speaks of how they, even though ill-equipped to give at the time, insisted on sharing what they had with those in Jerusalem.

We are often tempted to push donations onto others, especially when finances seem difficult. Recently, we've seen a great upheaval in the economic world and, unfortunately, the first thing to go is usually charitable donations. We feel that we don't need to give, or give as much, because we are now in hard times. This causes a one-two punch on the charities themselves, as more people request help, but fewer offer help to keep the charities going.

We must learn a lesson from the Macedonians in this instance, and not only from them, but from Paul's use of their example. C. S. Lewis put the crux of the issue nicely, (read the whole section here):

I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

When Paul is recalling this event to the Corinthians, he is using it as an encouragement, almost daring them to do better. "Now as you excel in every respect, ... may you excel in this gracious act also," (2 Cor 8:7). He also stresses that this is not an order, but a test of their own generosity. In our communities today, we should also be encouraging other in our giving. It is a form of competition where there are far more winners than losers. This can be a tall order for us, as some want to receive awards for their donations, while others want to keep it a secret. Granted, it is a difficult balance between humility and encouragement, but one that we must become more comfortable with. We must cease to see ourselves as the afflicted and instead see ourselves as the greatly blessed.

For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood. - Matthew 12:44

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' - Matthew 25:40

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of this day. We thank you for all of the great gifts that you have showered down upon us. Help us to share these gifts with others; gifts of time, talent and treasure. Lead us in a spirit of generosity, that we might spread the greatness of your bounty to all of our brothers and sisters. Give us the spirit of wisdom to balance generosity and humility to recognize that all blessings flow from you and not from ourselves. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Christian Lot

First Reading: 2 Cor 6:1-10
Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2b, 3-4 -- The Lord has made known his salvation
Gospel: Mt 5:38-42

But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. - Matthew 5:39

We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things. - 2 Corinthians 6:8b-10

Friends,

In today's reading, Paul is speaking to the community of faith in Corinth about endurance in the faith. He is encouraging them to hold fast, despite the many hardships and unfairness that will come their way.

Paul begins by telling the Corinthians "not to receive the grace of God in vain" (2 Cor 6:1). He then moves on to giving lists of challenges that they will face and the ways in which they must stand against them. But why? Why must the Christian face so many attacks from all sides, and why must we respond to those unjust attacks with kindness?

It isn't like we weren't warned. Jesus tells us in the beatitudes: "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me," (Mt 5:11). Again, in John 15:19: "If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you." Again and again Jesus tells us that we will not see the day when the world will treat his followers fairly. Anyone who takes the title of Christian must accept that it will be so.

But be not afraid of the difficult times. If we accept that, as Christians, we will be persecuted in this life, so too, we accept the promises of Christ. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven," (Mt 5:12a). Do not accept the gifts of the Spirit in vain, refusing to share them with others. Be prepared to give of them freely and to demonstrate what it means to truly be a Christian.

This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. - John 13:35

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. We are grateful for your ever-abundant love for us. Grant that we might share the gifts of the Spirit that we have been given with our brothers and sisters here on earth, so as to glorify your holy name. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.