A WORD FOR TODAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2021

https://youtu.be/k_Un5GBIhDw

*A WORD FOR TODAY

*LET YOUR GRATITUDE BE HUMANLY COMMENSURATE

_Beloved: Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.(1 Timothy 4:12)_

_*Today we have a very good message not only for young people and leaders but the old as well. The Apostle Paul in speaking to Timothy asks us to be of good example among ourselves. Let us take care to speak only good things that edify ourselves and others. In our conduct let us be of good example to those around us. Let us do well to be a channel of love to those whom we come in contact with.*_

_Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands by the presbyterate._

_*Among the things we must try to develop and share with others is the gift of God which is in us. These gifts could be spiritual or temporal and God expects us to be generous with the gifts he has bestowed on us.*_

At this point my dear friend, i will like to ask you two questions.

*1. For the many gifts of God (material and spiritual ) which you have enjoyed in the past, how have you shown gratitude to God?*

2. For the many times people have blessed you with their gifts and talents (material and spritual) how have you shown gratitude to them?

_*My dear friend, to be frank with you, I know that we can neither adequately thank God and sometimes people who are good to us. But the question is, do we put good efffort to make sure that our show of gratitude is reasonable or do we often times overlook things and show gratitude in just any trivial way?*_

_Learn from the Woman in the Gospel today. She broke human reasonable boundaries to show gratitude to Jesus for the gift of forgiveness she had received from him. She made sure that her gratitude was humanly commensurate with God's goodness to her, if we can put it that way._

_*The Pharisee saw the woman as a sinner, but Jesus saw beyond what he saw and simply forgave the woman her sins because she has loved much. She is a daughter of God who is in need of salvation and she found it in Christ, who did not cast him out or judged her, but simply showed her mercy and saved her. This should be our way of treating others always, we must see how to help them to get well and better, instead of rejoicing that they are down in sin.*_

_Today we celebrate the memorial of saints Cornelius and Cyprian, they were Bishops of Rome and Carthage respectively. They collaborated with each other in the governance of the Church and in propagation of the gospel. They used their gifts to serve God in the people. Let us learn from them to be grateful for the gift we have and to be generous to put it at the service of the Church._

_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊 as you do your work amd I wish you a very prosperous day. May the Lord help you to remain grateful always. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* 1 Tm 4:12-16/Ps 111:7-8, 9, 10/Lk 7:36-50

*Watch-Word:* How great are the works ofthe Lord!

*God has always been there for us. And he will never be tired. Let us show him the highest gratitude that is humanly possible. Let us also be grateful to those who do good to us.*

(Thursday of the twenty third week in the ordinary time, year 1. Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprain)