05/05 – Matthew 6:5-13 – When You Pray

First Reading: Acts 2:42–47

The disciples were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. A feeling of awe came over everyone, because many amazing things and miraculous signs happened through the apostles. All the believers kept meeting together and they shared everything with each other. From time to time they sold their property and other possessions and distributed the money to anyone who needed it. The believers had a single purpose and went to the temple every day. They were joyful and humble as they ate at each other’s homes and shared their food. At the same time, they praised God and had the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord saved people and they were added to the group.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19–25

God is pleased if a person is remembers him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering. What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? If you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you.

God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps. Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully. Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly. Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that, freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God’s approval. His wounds have healed you. You were like lost sheep. Now you have come back to the shepherd and overseer of your lives.

Holy Gospel Reading: John 10:1–10

[Jesus said] “I can guarantee this truth: The person who doesn’t enter the sheep pen through the gate, but climbs in somewhere else, is a thief or a robber, but the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out of the pen. After he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. They won’t follow a stranger. They will run away from a stranger because they don’t recognize his voice.” Jesus used this illustration as he talked to the people, but they didn’t understand what he meant.

So Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves or robbers. However, the sheep didn’t respond to them. I am the gate. Those who enter the sheep pen through me will be saved. They will go in and out of the sheep pen and find food. A thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I came so that my sheep will have life, and so that they will have it abundantly.