11th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, June 16
Sir/Ecclesiasticus 48:1-14 / Matthew 6:7-15
Sirach eulogizes Elijah and Elisha: Elisha worked many marvels.
The Book of Sirach treats two main themes: meditations on how to live and a review of Old Testament history. The review of Old Testament history takes the form of eulogies of the great heroes of Israel's past. One by one, the book parades these heroes before us.
Today's reading eulogizes Elijah and Elisha, two great prophets in Israel. Concerning Elisha, Sirach writes: "Nothing was beyond his power. In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvellous deeds." (NAB) The stories of Elijah and Elisha are examples of how God works through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.
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Have we ever experienced God's power acting through us in some extraordinary way? Lord, help us become an instrument through whom you can do your work.
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The reading from Sirach is a hymn of praise in honour of the fiery prophet Elijah. In the words of Jesus, Matthew gives us today a catechesis on prayer. The reason and basis of our prayer should not only be merely that we need something and we should not think that our prayer is more powerful when we use a stream of words. We pray because Jesus asks us to and because we have trust in our Father who knows what we need even before we ask him. In our prayer we should also place first things first: God and his kingdom, which is manifested and communicated to us by bread, forgiveness and protection.
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Whenever we talk about sin, we usually put it under two categories: mortal sin or grave sin, and venial sin. Venial sin are less serious sins, but let us not underestimate them. Because venial sins can have serious and damaging consequences.
Let's take for example in the family. After dinner, we might have noticed one family member always avoiding the washing of dishes or the cleaning up. We get irritated, and after a while, this irritation becomes resentment, and slowly a bitterness sets within. And when we can't take it anymore, we confront that person, but we confront that person with resentment and with bitterness.
Our intended correction becomes a criticism and maybe even a condemnation. That was why after teaching His disciples to pray, Jesus emphasized forgiveness. But it is not about forgiving those who have done us wrong but rather forgiving them for their failings. Because when we stand before God, we stand before Him as sinners with our own set of failings.
If a sinner cannot forgive another sinner for his failings, then prayer does not make sense, and that was what Jesus was saying.
But when we realize that we are no better than the other person whom we are about to point our finger at, then mercy and forgiveness have already begun to flow in us.
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Opening Prayer
Lord our God, you know what we need even before we can ask you. We are sure of this on account of the human experience of Jesus your Son, who was one of us. And so, we pray you: Don’t take it amiss when we use too many words to cover the emptiness of our hearts, and teach us through your Spirit in us to ask for the things that matter, you and your kingdom, that will last for ever and ever. Amen
