GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 22ND JUNE 2017
THURSDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: 2Corinthians 11:1-11
PSALM: Psalm 111:1-4, 7-8
GOSPEL: Matthew 6:7-15
THEME: THY WILL BE DONE
Issues pertaining to security have become topical on both local and international communication platforms on account of the many trouble spots in our world. There is a growing feeling of insecurity among many people. The world appears no more safe. Amidst this concern, I was particularly struck by two soothing quotes – “The safest place in all the world is in the will of God” and “The will of God will never lead you where his grace cannot protect you”. Indeed, a conscious embrace of the will of God is an oasis of peace in a world full of strife.
We have a teaching on prayer in our Gospel text for today. After teaching his disciples how not to pray (Mt. 6:7-8), Jesus proceeded to teach them how to pray (Mt 6:9-15). The model prayer, popularly referred to as the ‘Our Father’, has seven petitions.
Of particular interest in this reflection is the third petition – “Thy will be done…” (Mt. 6:10). This petition leads us straight into the heart of prayer: Prayer is not the twisting of the hand of God to achieve selfish goals but a humble search for the plan and purpose of a loving Father. To pray, “Thy will be done” presupposes three things:
1. The existence of the Divine will
2. Confidence in the Divine will
3. Acceptance of the Divine will
Many of us are open to the first two but resist, sometimes violently, the third one. Jesus, by his own personal example, teaches us the import of accepting the divine will even if we have our own personal desires. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Mt. 26:39).
In the end, it is safe to say: “Those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hand in everything.”
PRAYER: Eternal Father, many are the plans of my heart and yet in Christ and with him I cry out, ‘not my will but thine be done’. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).