Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time (June 16, 2016)

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/sirach/48and1 SIR 48and1-14 Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijahwhose words were as a flaming furnace.Their staff of bread he shattered,in his zeal he reduced them to straitsBy the Lord’s word he shut up the heavensand three times brought down fire.How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!Whose glory is equal to yours?You brought a dead man back to lifefrom the nether world, by the will of the LORD.You sent kings down to destruction,and easily broke their power into pieces.You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness.You heard threats at Sinai,at Horeb avenging judgments.You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance,and a prophet as your successor.You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,in a chariot with fiery horses.You were destined, it is written, in time to cometo put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.Blessed is he who shall have seen youAnd who falls asleep in your friendship.For we live only in our life,but after death our name will not be such.O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind!Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit,wrought many marvels by his mere word.During his lifetime he feared no one,nor was any man able to intimidate his will.Nothing was beyond his powerbeneath him flesh was brought back into life.In life he performed wonders,and after death, marvelous deeds. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/97and1 PS 97and1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7 R. (12a)Rejoice in the Lord, you just!The LORD is king let the earth rejoicelet the many isles be glad.Clouds and darkness are round about him,justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.R.Rejoice in the Lord, you just!Fire goes before himand consumes his foes round about.His lightnings illumine the worldthe earth sees and trembles.R.Rejoice in the Lord, you just!The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,before the Lord of all the earth.The heavens proclaim his justice,and all peoples see his glory.R.Rejoice in the Lord, you just!All who worship graven things are put to shame,who glory in the things of noughtall gods are prostrate before him.R.Rejoice in the Lord, you just! Alleluia and//usccb.org/bible/romans/8:15 ROM 8:15BC R.Alleluia, alleluia.You have received a spirit of adoption as sonsthrough which we cryand Abba! Father!R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/matthew/6and7 MT 6and7-15 Jesus said to his disciplesand In praying, do not babble like the pagans,who think that they will be heard because of their many words.Do not be like them.Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to prayand‘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 breadand forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against usand lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.’ If you forgive others their transgressions,your heavenly Father will forgive you.But if you do not forgive others,neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”