A WORD FOR TODAY 12 OCTOBER 2019

A WORD FOR TODAY

BLESSEDNESS COMES WITH OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WILL

Yesterday we reflected on the need to desist from being a detractor and making derogatory remarks about people who are doing good in God's name as Jesus experienced in the hands of the people, but today we see another side of it. He was speaking and a woman in the crowd praised the womb that bore Him and the breast that nurtured Him. She saw goodness and greatness in Jesus and she commended and complimented it.

We must learn how to speak the truth about things and people and not use every opportunity we get to maliciously slander them because we do not like them. When our heart is filled with jealousy and envy, we can never see anything good in people, but if it is filled with love, we will see the good in them and we will say words of encouragement that will help them to do more.

We should also avoid telling people lies about themselves in order to make them feel good especially when we know that they are not doing well, this will amount to hypocrisy, flattery and sychophancy. Instead, we should constructively criticise them so as to help them to become better.

Jesus, however, after hearing the words of praise from the woman in the crowd who obviously was carried away by emotions, spoke the truth to her, that blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and keep it. Our Mother Mary, the Mother of Jesus was foremost among those who heard God's word and kept it. She obeyed God's word and did what the angel said. She is blessed because she heard God's word and let it take root in her.

We must, as disciples of Jesus make effort on a daily basis to hear God's Word. We must study the Scriptures, learn about God and strive everyday to do what the Lord commands. This is the only way we will be counted as truly blessed in the eyes God. Obedience to God's word brings blessings to us in abundance.

The word of God is alive and active and if we feed on it everyday it will become our source of inspiration and motivation in all that we do. We will live by the word and shine out as the light and in so doing we will become better disciples for Jesus. Hearing the word alone is not enough, but going a step further to put it into practise is much more important.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a wonderful weekend. May God's word fill your heart with joy and may obedience to what it commands bring you blessings in abundance. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: Joel 3:12-21/Psalm 97:1-2,5-6,11-12/Luke 11:27-28

Watch-Word: Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

Hearing God's Word and doing what it commands is the best way to find blessings. Always let God's Word dwell in you richly

(Saturday of the 27th week in the Ordinary Time, Year 1)