A WORD FOR TODAY 21 JULY 2022

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*DO NOT FORSAKE THE LORD*

_"for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13)_

_*Loyalty and faithfulness are key attributes we find in Christ our Saviour. He came to earth in obedience to His Father's will and stayed faithful to His mission of the redemption of humanity by His dying on the cross.*_

_Ironically we see in life today people who leave God the author of life and maker of all things, the way maker and supreme being and go in search of other gods. They pledge their allegiance to these gods and deities that cannot save and in the end they are disappointed ._

_*In the first reading of today God instructed Jeremiah to go and proclaim His message to the people. He is to remind them of how they have have abandoned the right way to drift into idolatory. It is all about taking their allegiance elsewhere. They were disobedient and thought that by leaving God they will find joy and peace, but that was not to be the case.*_

_The eyes that can see and the ears that can hear and comprehend what the the Lord reveals are only those of the people who are loyal to God and walk in His ways._

_*Our hearts should never grow dull, instead, it should burn with zeal and desire for God. We are opportuned in our time to hear the Good news, we must strive to make it count. We must not take it for granted, instead we should stay close to Jesus always and let Him direct our ways and in that way we will be filled with His spirit and we will go out to proclaim His name.*_

_God has blessed us and He has shown us tremendous love, we must strive everyday to reciprocate this love by loving Him and being obedient to His commandments. Our total allegiance must go to Him alone and if we do, we will definitely be blessed forever._

_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a lovely day. May Jesus give you the grace to remain steadfast in following Him. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13/Psalm 36:6-11/Matthew 13:10-17

*Watch-Word:* With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life.

*Do not forsake the Lord, do not leave Him to go to other gods. With Him you have everything, but without Him you are nothing.*

(Thursday of thr sixteenth week in the ordinary time. Year II)

*© Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*