Faith Daily |23 June 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p 554

Almighty and everlasting God,

you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray,

and give more than either we desire or deserve:

pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,

forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,

and giving us those good things

which we are not worthy to ask,

save through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ,

your Son our Lord.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 7: 21-29

‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”

‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Rev’d Graham

When I read today’s passage, I recalled the standards Jesus set with his teachings and his actions, standards that simply explain the will of the Father, which in one word, is love. In previous sections of this Gospel, Matthew has cited attacks on other behaviours and lifestyles which have fallen short of what God desires of people. However, Jesus regularly ends each criticism with a positive alternative. Here, Matthew broadens Jesus’ attack to all sorts of wonderworkers in the church. Numbers of converts thought they were special because of the “special” powers they had. Jesus was aware of their habit of crying out “Lord, Lord” in their worship, of calling attention to themselves and their actions, but was also cognisant of their shortcomings when it came to a failure in demonstrating God’s love.

Where does this leave us? As we reflect on our own lives, can we know that we are constant in that what we say and do for others is infused with God’s love for the benefit of the one we are serving and the God of love we claim to believe in. I know how difficult this is at times and have to pull back from forgetting in whose presence I am, and give thanks for the examples Jesus has set. I pray that we can all join with the crowds ….. astounded at his teaching, for he taught …. as one having authority.

FINAL PRAYER Daniel A. Lord, SJ

Loving God,

Let me have too deep a sense of humour to be proud. Let me know my absurdity before I act absurdly. Let me realize that when I am humble I am most human, most truthful, and most worthy of your serious consideration. Amen.