First Reading | Isaiah 55:10-11
What is the most important goal of your life? May it be God’s will for you. When we live outside His will, we’ll never find the satisfaction and fulfillment we deeply long for. It is difficult to set aside our own will to follow another, even if it’s God’s. Let us be inspired by Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will.
10 Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, 11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
R: From all their distress God rescues the just.
4 Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 5 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 6 Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 7 When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 16 The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. 17 The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) 18 When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. 19 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R)
Gospel | Matthew 6:7-15
Prayer is not about the words we speak. Prayer, more importantly, is an encounter with the Lord. He wants to encounter us every moment in prayer. The question is, do we desire to encounter God? What do we do to nourish our spiritual life? Do we prioritize spending time with Him?
Gospel Acclamation
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
7 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, 10 thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; 13 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
