Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Daily Mass Readings for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years.

• First Reading (Cycle 1) - 2 Corinthians 11:1-11: The Apostle Paul defends his ministry, asserting his knowledge over eloquence and emphasizing his selfless, unburdening love for the believers.
• First Reading (Cycle 2) - Sirach 48:1-14: This passage recounts the mighty deeds of prophets Elijah and Elisha, highlighting their divine powers, fearlessness, and the miraculous works performed in life and after death.
• Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 1) - Psalm 111: The LORD's deeds are grand and delightful, renowned for their wonder, underpinned by justice, and a testament to His graciousness, mercy, and unwavering truth.
• Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 2) - Psalm 97: The Earth rejoices under the LORD's rule. His justice causes adversaries to vanish, His glory is universally observed, bringing shame to those who idolize false gods.
• Gospel - Matthew 6:7-15: Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer, warning them against empty repetitions and encouraging them to pray with sincerity and simplicity. He shares the Lord's Prayer as a model, emphasizing forgiveness and acknowledging God's authority in their lives.

Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

• Sincere and Simple Prayer: Jesus instructs His disciples to avoid meaningless repetitions and empty phrases in prayer, emphasizing the importance of sincere and heartfelt communication with God.
• The Model Prayer: Jesus provides His disciples with the Lord's Prayer (Our Father), offering a model for them to follow in their own prayers and highlighting the key elements of worship, reverence, submission, and dependence on God.
• Forgiveness and Repentance: Jesus emphasizes the significance of forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer, instructing His followers to forgive others so that they may receive forgiveness from God, highlighting the connection between our forgiveness of others and God's forgiveness of us.
• Dependence on God: The Lord's Prayer acknowledges our dependence on God for our daily sustenance, recognizing that all good things come from Him.
• Seeking God's Will: The Lord's Prayer expresses the desire for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, demonstrating the importance of aligning our lives and desires with God's divine purposes.
• Deliverance from Evil: The Lord's Prayer seeks God's protection and deliverance from evil and temptation, acknowledging the spiritual battles we face and our need for His guidance and strength.

Thoughts for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel for Thursday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time, Jesus teaches his disciples about the nature of prayer. He cautions against empty and repetitive words, urging them not to pray like the pagans who believe that many words guarantee divine attention. Instead, Jesus encourages them to approach prayer with sincerity and trust, knowing that their Heavenly Father is aware of their needs even before they ask.

Jesus then shares the model of prayer known as the Lord's Prayer or the Our Father. It serves as a guide, outlining the key elements of a meaningful prayer. The prayer begins by acknowledging and revering God as our Father in heaven, recognizing His holiness and sovereignty. It expresses the desire for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. It requests daily provision, both physical and spiritual, while also emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and seeking forgiveness from God and others. The prayer concludes by seeking God's guidance in avoiding temptation and deliverance from evil.

Furthermore, Jesus emphasizes the vital connection between forgiveness and prayer. He emphasizes that if we forgive others who have wronged us, our Heavenly Father will also forgive us. However, if we withhold forgiveness, our own sins will not be forgiven. This underscores the importance of cultivating a forgiving heart, recognizing the profound impact of forgiveness on our relationship with God and others.

As we reflect on this passage, let us approach prayer with sincerity, avoiding empty and repetitive words. Let the Lord's Prayer guide our conversations with God, reminding us of the significance of reverence, submission to His will, dependency on Him for our daily needs, and the necessity of forgiveness. May we seek to forgive others as we ourselves seek forgiveness, understanding the transformative power of forgiveness in our relationship with God and in our interactions with others.

Prayer for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Heavenly Father, help us to pray with sincerity, knowing that you already know our needs. Grant us the grace to forgive others as you have forgiven us, so that we may experience the fullness of your mercy and love. Amen.