＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Corinthians 11:1-11

 May you bear with me

In some little foolishness! But surely you will. I confess that I share the jeal­ousy of God for you, for I have promised you in mar­riage to Christ, the only spouse, to present you to him as a pure virgin. And this is my fear: the serpent that seduced Eve with cunning could also corrupt your minds and divert you from the Christian sincerity.

Someone now comes and preaches another Jesus different from the one we preach, or you are offered a different spirit from the one you have received, with a different Gospel from the one you have accepted—and you agree!

 I do not see how I am inferior to those super-apostles. Does my speak­ing leave much to be desired? Perhaps, but not my knowledge, as I have abundantly shown to you in every way. Perhaps my fault was that I humbled myself in order to uplift you, or that I gave you the Gospel free of charge. I called upon the services of other churches and served you with the support I received from them. 

When I was with you, although I was in need, I did not become a burden to anyone. The friends from Mace­donia gave me what I needed. I have taken care not to be a burden to you in anything and I will continue to do so. By the truth of Christ within me, I will let no one in the land of Achaia stop this boasting of mine.  Why? Because I do not love you? God knows that I do!

 

Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 7-8

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Matthew 6:7-15

 When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do, for they hold that the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard.  

Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.  This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

holy be your name,

 your kingdom come

and your will be done,

 on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

 Forgive us our debts

 just as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.

 Do not bring us to the test

but deliver us from the evil one.

If you forgive others their wrongdoings,

your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Prayer is not a conversation with God per se but a relationship. This relationship is cultivated in many different ways. One may opt to faithfully follow a routine of liturgical, devotional and corporal works of mercy. Talking to God is just one of many activities in nourishing the loving relationship with Him.

Thus Jesus tells listeners to not put too much emphasis in the use of words when relating to God. If you are secure in God’s love, you need not talk too much to catch God’s attention. One look at you and God knows your needs. He may not give it at once because God’s perfect timing is not like that of ours. God gives it when it is most effective.