First reading Isaiah 55:10-11
The word that goes out from my mouth does not return to me empty
Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’
Responsorial Psalm 33(34):4-7,16-19
The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.
Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.
The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress.
The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.
The Lord turns his face against the wicked
to destroy their remembrance from the earth.
The Lord turns his eyes to the just
and his ears to their appeal.
The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.
They call and the Lord hears
and rescues them in all their distress.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
The Lord rescues the just in all their distress.
Gospel Matthew 6:7-15
How to pray
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:
‘Our Father in heaven,
may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test,
but save us from the evil one.
‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’
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God our Father
In today’s gospel, Jesus reveals to His disciples who God truly is: the loving Father who is always attentive to the needs of His beloved children. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” On this certainty, Jesus invited the disciples to relate confidently and without any fear with God the Father.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heavens and do not return without watering the earth…so the word from My mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do” (1st reading). With the assurance of God’s loving faithfulness, we pray today and ask for our daily bread – what we deeply need at this moment in our lives. It may be peace, understanding, consolation, truth, strength, courage, etc. In the silence of our hearts, let us find God our Father being fully present with us and generously filling us with His word of love today.
Reflective questions:
What is the word/phrase that strikes me in prayer? Why?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
