Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Many of us have probably had the experience of wanting the best for someone and trying to guide him or her appropriately. For those of us who are parents, we can honestly say that we DO often know what’s best for our kids, even when they seem not to believe us. Sometimes we feel like we are making progress in training or guiding others; they seem to take our words seriously and change their habits and lives accordingly. In this first reading from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we hear Paul pleading with the Corinthians. In the past, Paul spent time with the Corinthians. He helped them to establish their Church and become committed disciples of Christ. He preached the gospel as a missionary to these people. He sacrificed for them and loved them, believing that all of his work was worth something because of Christ.

In this excerpt we see that Paul is more than a little concerned for this Corinthian Church. Despite all of his efforts, it seems that the people are being unfaithful to the gospel message preached by Paul. In their “tolerance” or, perhaps, “naivete,” the Corinthians have been swayed by a different and false gospel. “Please put up with me” (2 Cor. 11:1) begs Paul. Like a mother who really does know the best for her children, Paul tries to persuade the Corinthians of the truth of his message.

In the gospel passage from Matthew, meanwhile, we have Jesus instructing his disciples in how to pray. Here again, we have the guidance of someone who knows what’s best for others and is trying to help them.

When we encounter these readings, we might instinctively know that Paul and Jesus are right, much in the same way we knew our moms were right about not eating sweets right before dinner. But for some reason, we continue to resist. We may assent intellectually, but we still struggle in living out the message practically in our everyday life. It’s just easier and more attractive to have a quick bite of chocolate before sitting down to a healthy salad.

Despite this, we have reason for hope. Even if we don’t always live up to the “Our Father,” in today’s passage, we can still pray it. Even if we don’t always do what’s best for us, we can still put up with Paul challenging us. In fact, much of the Christian life is putting up with Christ. In other words, we must allow ourselves to be confronted. We must realize our sinfulness. We must see how we go astray. In so doing, there is the possibility for true salvation.

Today, let us think about how we need to put up with the challenges posed to us by our faith. Take some time to pray the Lord’s prayer and let it challenge you. God knows best. How can we let ourselves be persuaded to live out the paschal mystery ever more faithfully?

- Maria Morrow