Why do we pray to God our Heavenly Father that His Kingdom come, His Will be done when we think or rather we insists we must be in control?
“My daughter is mine, I cannot and will not surrender her to the Will of God.” “I worked hard all my life to provide for my family, I have a car, a home, all that I can ask so why should I surrender it all to God?” “I serve in Church on Sundays and that is enough how can they expect me to attend prayer meetings, ministry meetings and so on, my domestic church comes first!”
Some may even declare “I have resisted all forms of sin and temptation.” But what about the sin of omission? For failing to do what the Lord wants us to do? Not so much what we have done, but what we have failed to do, especially for our brethren! The poor, the sick, the widow, the orphan, those suffering injustice and oppression.
What does it mean then to seek God’s Kingdom first? It is not simply to live in our King’s Domain? In His presence? Is He then truly first in our lives as we claim? Are we truly then worthy of Him? For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 Why then are we afraid to surrender our all to Him?
Here I am Lord, I come to do Your Will. Amen!
First reading
Isaiah 1:10-17 ·
Take your wrongdoing out of my sight
Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the command of our God,
you people of Gomorrah.
‘What are your endless sacrifices to me?
says the Lord.
I am sick of holocausts of rams
and the fat of calves.
The blood of bulls and of goats revolts me.
When you come to present yourselves before me,
who asked you to trample over my courts?
Bring me your worthless offerings no more,
the smoke of them fills me with disgust.
New Moons, sabbaths, assemblies –
I cannot endure festival and solemnity.
Your New Moons and your pilgrimages
I hate with all my soul.
They lie heavy on me,
I am tired of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands
I turn my eyes away.
You may multiply your prayers,
I shall not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood,
wash, make yourselves clean.
‘Take your wrong-doing out of my sight.
Cease to do evil.
Learn to do good,
search for justice,
help the oppressed,
be just to the orphan,
plead for the widow.’
Gospel
Matthew 10:34-11:1
It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
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