The gospel for Thursday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time is taken from St. Matthew 6:15. 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. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. If you forgive others their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

The final passage in this scripture is confusing. If you read it just on the surface, it sounds as if God the Father is not going to forgive you unless you forgive others. His intention, his very essence is forgiveness. So what he’s really saying is unless you have a heart that is open to forgiving another, you can’t receive forgiveness yourself. The tragedy is that we do not understand that we have to receive before we can give. Please take a few moments to reflect on these words as you listen to the music.

Now we’ll close with a prayer, foreign closing prayer. Father, your gifts are abundant and there are ways in which we have chosen to block them. And help us to get past those blocks and open ourselves to the gifts that you so generously long to pour into our heart. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.