THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Jesus said: 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. Matthew 7:24,25

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need,12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Prayer: Communication between us and God Father invites us on a faith journey. He speaks primarily to us by: His word His Spirit His Body

Fasting: 1. to abstain from all food. 2. to eat only sparingly or of certain kinds of food, especially as a religious observance. verb (used with object) 3. to cause to abstain entirely from or limit food; put on a fast:

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud. Don’t be timid “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.     Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! 2     Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day     and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation     that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf,     pretending they want to be near me. 3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.     ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves,     and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond.     “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast,     you keep oppressing your workers.    

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:      you keep oppressing your workers. 4 What good is fasting     when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting     will never get you anywhere with me. 5 You humble yourselves     by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads     like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap     and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting?     Do you really think this will please the Lord? 6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;     lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free,     and remove the chains that bind people. 7 Share your food with the hungry,     and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them,     and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,     and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward,     and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.     ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

When you pray and fast: Don’t pray for the sole purpose of being recognized by others Don’t babble using repetition Wash your face and comb your hair

Pray like this: Praise and adoration (acknowledge who He is) Agree with His eternal purpose Agree and welcome His will Express your need of Him Forgive Keep us from evil