Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Thursday Week 11 Ordinary time - June 18, 2020


Thursday 18th June 2020
11th week in ordinary time year II
Ecclesiasticus 48:1-15, Matthew 6:7-15
Many Christians always ask whether God listens to their prayers despite all the time they spend praying. Many people pray continuously, sometimes for a particular intention and it seems as if God does not listen to them.
In the gospel reading of today, Jesus makes us to understand that the reason many of our prayers seem not to be answered is because our attitudes to prayer is very poor.
The first point is that God's answer to our prayers does not depend on how much we shout or the length of time we spend praying. We may therefore get discouraged if our prayers are not answered after all that we have done. The answer to our prayers depends solely on God and not us. We should always trust that God hears us and knows what we need even before we ask.
For many Christians too, to pray means to ask God for something. This is not the case. Prayer is not only petitions, but adoration and Thanksgiving. This is why Jesus teaches us how to pray in the gospel reading of today.
In prayer, we have to first of all acknowledge God's might and thank him for what he has done for us. Even before we ask him for a favour, we have to be disposed for his will for us. This is why we pray that his heavenly will for us be accomplished on earth. We should be ready to accept the will of God for us. What we are asking of God may not be his will for us or not at that moment. We have to trust God for he is the master planner and he is aware of what we need. We should also pray for what we truly need, just as he taught us to ask for daily bread and not a trailer load of bread.
The right attitude towards prayers gives us happiness and peace of mind and body.  Approach God today with the right mindset, and his heavenly will shall be made manifest in your life. God help us. Amen
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

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