Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the 11th week in ordinary time, June 19, 2025

Delivered by Gladys from the Parish of Saint Gabriel in the Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia. 2 Corinthians 11: 1-11; Rs psalm 111: 1-2.3-4.7-8; Matthew 6: 7-15.GRATITUDE IS SUPPLICATION Our meditation today is entitled:Gratitude is Supplication. There is a boy, a student of elementary school namedIvan was praying in his room and could be heard by anyone outside. His Fatherand mother heard their son pray and approached the door to hear it moreclearly. About 2 minutes time Ivan prayed while sitting on his bed, his eyesclosed, and his hands attached to his chest. When he came out of his room, hismother asked: "Ivan, Mom and Dad heard you praying, but you did not ask orbeg for anything to God. You just said “thank you” and enjoyed to praise God.Why din't you ask something to God?" Ivan immediately replied: "Idon't want to ask Mam. Because I already have everything in Mom and Dad, I'lljust ask. God is so good Mam." This child, Ivan, teaches us a lesson.It is about a way of praying that makes thanksgiving and praise as the maincontent of the prayer, in which there are also supplications that conceive therequests according to each one’s needs and interests. God knows everything,including our most hidden and smallest needs of our lives. What we need to dois to put ourselves before Him and express our worship, thanks and praise. A friend once said that when shepassed in one of the aisles in her housing complex, she met the owner of thebakery and they greeted each other briefly. She praised that the bread is thebest product and the advertisements of the bread are very interesting. Sheappreciated it very much because with the presence that bakery in the complex,people would just access to the shop just on foot. In the afternoon, an onlinedriver droped by the house of that friend and delivered a box of bread offeredfreely by the owner of the bakery. This story simply illustrates howthrough greetings, gratitude, appreciation, and praise, the gifts come to uswithout our effort to go and ask or buy. This really needs to be our way ofprayer and how we dispose ourselves to God. Our task is basically to givethanks, be grateful, obey His commandments, praise and worship Him. While withregards to our various needs, it will become the duty of God to take care,because God already knows our situation and needs. We are taught by Jesus the prayer of"Our Father", Jesus' own prayer, to introduce us that God is ourgenerous Father. This prayer of Jesus makes us confident about His providenceto each of us according to His will and meet our real situations. Every time wesay "Your will be done" we should open ourselves up and let His powerwork on us as He pleases. Let us pray ... In the name ofthe Father ... O most generous Father, we thank you for the prayer of Jesus sothat we can truly know You. Our Father in heaven ... In the name of the Father...