A WORD FOR TODAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2022

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*TAKE YOUR OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY COME YOUR WAY*

_"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, Follow me. And he rose and followed him."(Matthew 9:9)_

*MATTHEW, AN APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST*

_*Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. He was chosen by Christ to be a preacher of the gospel and he did his best and also brought many souls to Christ.*_

*A TAX COLLECTOR BECAME A GOSPEL PREACHER*

_The gospel reading of today presents us with the story of the call of Matthew. He was a tax collector and was sitting at his office when Jesus gave him an invitation to follow Him. It was once in a life time opportunity and he did not waste anytime to rise and follow Him._

*HE SAID YES*

_*He said yes to Jesus, rose from his seat, followed him and Jesus in return followed him to his house where he hosted Him and it became an opportunity for other tax collectors and sinners to meet with Jesus.*_

*OPPORTUNITY LOST MAY NEVER BE GAINED*

_Opportunities are simply favourable moments or a good chance for making advancement or progress in a particular skill, trade, craft career or spirituality. It comes at different times in our life's journey, but if we fail to take it, we will definitely be the ones to regret._

*RISE UP, WASTE NO TIME TO FOLLOW CHRIST*

_*Matthew may have been seeking for a way to meet Jesus and also may have been tired of his work as a tax collector because of the perception of the people that they are corrupt and sinful, therefore, when this opportunity came his way, he wasted no time but to say yes to Jesus and he became a vessel for the proclamation of the gospel.*_

*MAKE USE OF WHAT IS GIVEN TO DO GOOD*

_God gives us an opportunity to repent of our sins and follow Him. He gives us an opportunity to do good and avoid evil. He gives us an opportunity to love and not hate, be charitable and not stingy, to be sincere and not dishonest, to be humble and not proud. We must strive everyday to take these opportunities when they come so that we shall be happy in the end._

*JESUS IS CALLING YOU*

_*Jesus is calling you today, it does not matter how your past has been, you can become a new person, just say yes to Him, leave your old self behind and embrace the new person He is calling you to be and you will proclaim the gospel and be happy forever.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a lovely day. May God give you the grace to say yes to Him when He calls you. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13/Psalm 19:2-5/Matthew 9:9-13

*Watch-Word:* I came not to call the righteous, but sinners

*God is calling you, say yes to Him and He will use you to win more souls into His kingdom.*

(Wednesday of the twenty-fifth week in the ordinary time. Year II)

*© Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*