You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father! - Daily Bible Readings June 18,2015

1ST READING   Paul would have been fed up with the materialism and self-centeredness of modern-day society. He was frustrated with the Corinthians and they were not as materialistic as we are today. In order to embrace the Gospel fully, we must stop asking, “What’s in it for me?” and instead focus on what God wants us to do.   2 Corinthians 11:1-11 1 Brothers and sisters: If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me! Please put up with me. 2 For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God, since I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough. 5 For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these “super apostles.” 6 Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. 7 Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? 8 I plundered other churches by accepting from them in order to minister to you. 9 And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 By the truth of Christ in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!   P S A L M   Psalm 111:1-2, 3-4, 7-8 R: Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth. 1 I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. 2 Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights. (R) 3 Majesty and glory are his work, and his justice endures forever. 4 He has won renown for his wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the Lord. (R) 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts, 8 reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity. (R)   GOSPEL   Prayer is about the attitude of heart with which we speak them. St. Teresa of Avila focused on increasing her nuns’ desire for God. Desire for God helps us persevere through the difficult roads in our path to holiness. The desire of a person’s heart is strong enough to conquer floods, deserts, mountains and any other obstacle. As a priest friend of mine says, “Never give up!”   GOSPEL ACCLAMATION You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!   Matthew 6:7-15 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 your name, 10 thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as 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 others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”   think: Prayer is about the attitude of heart with which we speak them.   T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________   ____________________________________   God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________   READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1  Chronicles 1-3