A WORD FOR TODAY 27 AUGUST 2022

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*MAKE USE OF YOUR GIFTS FOR THE LORD NOW*

_"to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more."(Matthew 25:15-16)_

_*God is love and His generousity is equal to none. He made us in His own image and likeness out of His abundance of love and He gave us every gift we have and all that we shall need to prosper and blossom here on earth.*_

_God made us and He gave us a task and responsibility to discharge in His name. He chose us for a mission, not because we are qualified, but simply because of His love. We have been made to carry out our duties honourably until He returns to take us to Himself._

_*The gospel reading of today once again highlights the need for us to be ready and prepared for we shall all present our account or score card of our stewardship someday before the presence of the master who has given us everything we have to serve Him in this life.*_

_We may not be the most powerful and strong, we may not be the most wise and intelligent, but God has chosen us and He has placed in our charge something to do for Him. We must do something with the gift we have received so that when the Lord comes, we shall have a good report to present and we shall be rewarded abundantly._

_*When you fail to make use of your gift as a result of idleness and laziness, you will definitely live with the regret at the end of time. When a gift is not put in use, you will definitely lose the gift and it becomes useless. There is no need to hoard your gifts or be stingy with it, shine it out like a light for everyone to see and you will win God's praise and exaltation in the end.*_

_The servants in the gospel reading invested their talents and they made gain of extra talents, but one of them hid his own and made nothing. Where do you belong? are you a servant making good use of your talent from God in humility or are you the one who hid his own. Now is a perfect time to start to use what we have as gifts from God to serve Him well in the people, so that on the day of reckoning we shall have a good report and our reward will be wonderful._

_*Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. She is a perfect example of a good and holy woman who inspite of the challenges she faced in her home, never gave up, but prayed fervently to God for the salvation of her husband and son and God answered her prayers. We must learn from her to trust God to help us when we call upon Him in prayers. We should also learn from her virtues and pray for the change of those who may have gone astray in life and are no longer following the way of God so that through God's grace and mercy they will find their way back to Him.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a beautiful day. May Jesus give you the grace to make use of your gifts now to win eternity in the end. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* 1 Corinthians 1:26-31/Psalm 33:12-13,18-21/Matthew 25:14-30

*Watch-Word:* Blessed the people rhe Lord has chosen as His heritage

*Discover your gift, put it into good use and it will be your accees code to heaven on the last day.*

(Saturday of the twenty-first week in the ordinary time. Year II. Memorial of St. Monica)

*© Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*