A WORD FOR TODAY 2 JANUARY 2020

A WORD FOR TODAY

WITNESS FOR JESUS IN HUMILITY AND TRUTH

As we rejoice in the arrival of the new year, we are immediately presented in the readings of today with what our focus and preoccupation should be. We are going to witness for Christ and let the world know who He is and the reason why He came into the world.

Saint John admonishes us in the first reading of today in his first letter to abide in Christ and in that way we shall know him and we will witness for Him in truth and when He appears we shall have confidence to stand before Him without being ashamed.

Witnessing for Jesus goes beyond mere quoting the scriptures. It is a way of life and anyone who takes up this responsibility must live it out on a daily basis. However, it will do the disciple a lot of good to know who the Master is, before he or she will go out to show the world in words and deeds who is sending him and what His mission is also.

Humility is a virtue that will help us to witness for Jesus and that is what John the Baptist is teaching us in the gospel reading. He acknowledged before the people that He was not Christ and refused to claim to be who he is not. In humility he powerfully witnessed for Christ in truth. He was ever ready to show the world who Jesus is.

Anyone who is ready to witness for Christ, must be ready to speak the truth and die for it. You must stay at alert and be vigilant so that you will not be led astray by enemies of the Word of God. God's promises are assured and He can never lead us astray. He is truth and anyone who is in Him will walk in the truth and will possess eternal life. The antichrist is the one who knows the truth, but chooses to lie about it and anyone who follows him will walk in darkness and will not have eternal life.

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saints Basil the great(330-379) and Gregory Nazianzen. (330-389). Basil was a brilliant scholar and a virtuous man who was very generous to the poor. Gregory on the other hand was a friend of Basil and he was also very intelligent and lived s holy life that help build up the faith of the people in the time of persecution. We must learn from them to put our gifts at the service of God and the Church.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a wonderful day. May Jesus give you the grace to witness for Him in humility and truth. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: 1 John 2:22-28/Psalm 98:1-4/John 1:19-28

Watch-Word: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Witnessing for Christ in involves sacrifice and commitment and if we put on the garment of humility we will be able to do it well in truth.