A WORD FOR TODAY 21 MAY, 2023

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*STAY DEVOTED TO GOD, YOUR TIME OF GLORY WILL COME*

_"When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee,"(John 17:1)_

*TASK AND EXECUTION*

_*When a task is given and it is perfectly and wonderfully executed to the satisfaction of the one who has given you the task. Two things happen, the one who gave the task is happy and the one who executed it is also happy and is rewarded handsomely.*_

*Human task, material reward. God's task, heavenly reward.*

_Our human task is done to satisfy our parents, boss, friends and those who have given them to us, and our reward is material and does not last forever. However, when we carry out our God given task and mission of proclaiming His name here on earth, we are rewarded with eternal life.(aionis in Greek... Life of God characterised by splendour, peace, joy, majesty, glory, holiness, infinity)_

*MISSION ACCOMPLISHED*

_*For Jesus, it was mission accomplished. The cross was the climax of His glory. He came from heaven to do the will of the Father. He did all that is required of Him,(Obedience and Loyalty). He taught the people the way, He prayed, He showed love and mercy, He bore the pain of the cross, died on it, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He spoke confidently in the gospel reading of today and asked the Father to glorify Him. He will be glorified by the Father as He has resumed His place at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and His name is above every name.(Philippians 2:9-10). The shame of the cross was washed away by the glory of Jesus' resurrection.*_

*Stay Devoted to God*

_Jesus stayed Devoted to the Father and to His mission and He has bequeathed to us the task of making disciples of all nations until He returns. If we expect to receive eternal and lasting reward in the end we must stay devoted to God, to prayers and to the gathering of believers._

*WAIT AT THE UPPER ROOM*

_*The disciples gathered together at the upper room and devoted themselves in prayers as they await the coming of the Holy Spirit. We must also do the same. We must take our spiritual life seriously, do not neglect the gathering of believers and never allow your desire for the material surpass that of the spiritual. (Go to mass, read the bible, pray always, attend sodality devotions, visit the blessed Sacrament, evangelize, do charity e.t.c.) Let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn in Your heart and energize you to keep doing great things for God in this life so that you will be gloried in the end.*_

*God's blessings are Assured*

_When you devote yourself in serving God here on earth, people may laugh at you and you will definitely experience rejection and persecution, but God will stand with you and by you and after manifesting His name through your words and deeds, you will receive a hundred fold reward here on earth and eternal life in the end. Therefore, step up your commitment to your devotion to God and His work and your reward will surely come._

*YOUR GLORY WILL COME FROM YOUR DEDICATION*

_*Come out of your shell, stop hiding your gifts, move away from people who are holding you down from manifesting your full potential in God. Be fired up in your heart to start afresh and you will definitely receive a fresh anointing to do more exploits in the name of Jesus. Just like Christ, if you give your all for God, even to the point of death, He will raise you up and reward you abundantly.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you start your day and do have a beautiful Sunday, may Jesus give you the grace to stay devoted to Him always. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Acts 1:12-14/Psalm 27:1,4,7-8/1 Peter 4:13-16/John 17:1-11

*Watch-Word:* I believe I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living.

_*We have a task from God, be devoted to accomplishing it and your reward will definitely come to you.*_

(Seventh Sunday of Easter. Year A)

*© Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*