Yesterday I was present at a youth conference as part of a prayer team. What struck me is that the challenges, difficulties many of them face such as fidelity to Christ, Holiness, having a prayer life and not having a deep meaningful our Lord; echoes that of their parents.
The Lord prompted me to tell one youth, “I know that you love me, but do you realise just how much I truly love you?” “If you did will you not naturally want to spend more time with me?” “Would you still feel inadequate and lost?” And to another do not look to perfection in others. Instead strive to grow in your own Holiness by deepening your relationship with Jesus who loves you dearly. Your constant anger and swearing comes about because you do not know Jesus intimately, desire to know Him and be changed by His love. Many needed to be reminded of Christ’s love for them, to encounter Him more profoundly through His Word and to pray as children of God Father who loves them ever so dearly.
Just like our Youths we adults need to truly contemplate on the great love of God our Father has for all of us. Jesus His Son is the light, the truth and the way for us into His loving embrace. We are reminded today through the Lord’s prayer of how the Holy Spirit we received is the spirit of sons and daughters for which makes us cry out ‘Abba Father! Amen
First reading
2 Corinthians 11:1-11
I was careful not to be a burden to you in any way
I only wish you were able to tolerate a little foolishness from me. But of course: you are tolerant towards me. You see, the jealousy that I feel for you is God’s own jealousy: I arranged for you to marry Christ so that I might give you away as a chaste virgin to this one husband. But the serpent, with his cunning, seduced Eve, and I am afraid that in the same way your ideas may get corrupted and turned away from simple devotion to Christ. Because any new-comer has only to proclaim a new Jesus, different from the one that we preached, or you have only to receive a new spirit, different from the one you have already received, or a new gospel, different from the one you have already accepted – and you welcome it with open arms. As far as I can tell, these arch-apostles have nothing more than I have. I may not be a polished speechmaker, but as for knowledge, that is a different matter; surely we have made this plain, speaking on every subject in front of all of you.
Or was I wrong, lowering myself so as to lift you high, by preaching the gospel of God to you and taking no fee for it? I was robbing other churches, living on them so that I could serve you. When I was with you and ran out of money, I was no burden to anyone; the brothers who came from Macedonia provided me with everything I wanted. I was very careful, and I always shall be, not to be a burden to you in any way, and by Christ’s truth in me, this cause of boasting will never be taken from me in the regions of Achaia. Would I do that if I did not love you? God knows I do.
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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