Thursday, January 2 2025 The Lord's Prayer

Beloved, today is the 28th week after Pentecost.  

• Nativity Fast (St. Philip's Fast): 
  • Food with Oil.  Consume only bread, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and/or shellfish.  Olive oil and wine are permitted.
  • Avoid meat, dairy, poultry, and fish with backbone.
• Todays Prayer:
  • The Lord's Prayer-
    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 the evil one.
    
    
• Scripture Readings:
  
  Matthew 6:1-13

   

  Do Good to Please God

  6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

  The Model Prayer

  5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

  8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

  Our Father in heaven,
  Hallowed be Your name.
  10 Your kingdom come.
  Your will be done
  On earth as it is in heaven.
  11 Give us this day our daily bread.
  12 And forgive us our debts,
  As we forgive our debtors.
  13 And do not lead us into temptation,
  But deliver us from the evil one.
  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

   

  Mark 10:17-27

   

   Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

  17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

  18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

  20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

  21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

  22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

  With God All Things Are Possible

  23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is [a]for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

  26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

  27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”