A WORD FOR TODAY 22 AUGUST 2021

A WORD FOR TODAY

MAKE THE CHOICE TO SERVE THE LORD TODAY

_"And if you be unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”(Joshua 24:5)_

_*Everyday in life we make choices. These choices go a long way to determine what the outcome of our lives will be. Our joy or sorrow, peace or anxiety, fulfillment or disappointment all cone down to the choice or route we take in life.*_

_When the right choice is made in life, the fruits are evident for everyone to see and when the wrong choice is made, we also see its manifestation in us and around us._

_*In the first reading of today Joshua declared his stand with the Lord and also asked the people to choose whom they want to serve, the Living God or the other gods. They also declared that they will serve the Lord for He has done so much for them.*_

_This declaration is very vital if we are going to serve the Lord well. We much choose to serve the Lord above wealth and material acquisition. We must choose Him above status and positions of authority, we must choose Him above family and friends and other acquaintances e.t.c._

_*We also see in the gospel reading how the disciples of Jesus made a definite and decisive choice to to stay with Jesus even when others left because they felt His teachings were difficult to follow, but it was the truth and He did not compromise it because of them. Jesus asked the disciples whether they will go away too as the people left, but Peter responded, 'to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.*_

_A choice to follow Jesus is a choice to have life and have it more abundantly. It is a choice to follow the path of righteousness, to live a good and purposeful life and reject any persuasion to choose evil above good. It is a choice to choose the Spirit that gives life above the flesh that is of no avail, it is also a choice to choose heaven above the earth and all created things._

_*To choose God is to choose Joy and peace and everlasting life, but you must also be ready to carry your cross as Jesus has instructed. You must be ready to suffer persecution in the hands of those who do not believe, but in the end God will save you and give you eternal reward in His heavenly kingdom.*_

_Anyone who has made the choice to follow Jesus must live in love and inspire others to do the same. As St. Paul tells us in the second reading, just as Christ loved the Church and gave His life for her, husbands must love their wives and wives must be subject to their husbands. Husbands should treat them with honour and respect and the wives in turn must respect their husbands and do good to them. True love flows from the heart that is rooted in Christ, but evil and wickedness flows from the heart that has chosen other gods above Christ Himself._

_*Make the choice today whom you will serve. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He will always be God and He cannot change. He can never lead us astray, therefore, to follow Him is the best thing that can happen to us. Serve Him well here on earth and you will live with Him in heaven in the end.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊 as you begin your day and do have beautiful Sunday. May Jesus give you the grace to choose Him above other gods. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Joshua 24:1-2,15-18/Psalm 34:2-3,16-23/Ephesians 5:21-32/John 6:60-69

*Watch-Word:* Your words are Spirit and life, you have the words of eternal life.

*Choose God and serve Him well on earth and eternal life will be guaranteed for you on the last day.*

(Twenty first Sunday in the ordinary time. Cycle B)