In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today is the feast of St. Matthew. He is the patron saint of St. Matthew CES in Unionville. St. Matthew, one of the twelve Apostles, is the author of the first Gospel. Matthew’s Gospel teaches us about the importance of believing in and living as a follower of Christ.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. (Matthew 5:19)
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
In this Gospel, Matthew shares how Jesus taught that we must do our best to follow the Ten Commandments. If we obey the Ten Commandments and teach them to others, then we are being true to God’s Word and true to ourselves. We may sometimes need courage to do this.
Today is also the International Day of Peace as declared by the United Nations. We take a moment today to pause and pray for peace throughout the world. (pause)
Let us pray with the words that Jesus taught us:
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 evil. Amen.
We close in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.