A WORD FOR TODAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2023

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*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*BEAR YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS*

_"Then Jesus told his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."(Matthew 16:25-26)_

*THE FATHER ALLOWED THE SON TO SUFFER*

_*The issue of suffering and why it is part of what we experience in this life will continue to be a discussion that will out live us, because we may lack the capacity to comprehend why God allowed it. However, it is important for us to learn from Jesus and do as He did when He suffered.*_

*GOD'S WAY IS DIFFERENT, LEARN TO FOLLOW HIM IN HIS WAY*

_In the gospel reading of today, we see how Jesus reacted to Peter's desire that He will not go to Jerusalem to fulfil His mission. For Peter, it will be so wrong for a messiah to suffer and die, but for Jesus, that is the will of the Father and His ways are surely different from the ways of men._

*LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS AS YOU WISH IT*

_*Many times we tend to run away when the cross is mentioned, because we do not want to be associated with it. We want the easy life and we desire no skin pain. However, life is not always as we wish it will be. God's ways are not the way of men, therefore, we must always pray to be able to accept it.*_

*THERE IS A CROWN AFTER THE CROSS*

_God chose the way of the cross for the redemption of the world and His son our Lord Jesus Christ has to go through it. Anyone who choose to follow Him must also accept the cross and bear it as he did bear his own because of the glory and crown that will come in the end._

_*Jeremiah in the first reading experienced it in the hands of those who listened to him, they persecuted him, but the fire of God's word in his heart kept pushing him to proclaim God's message even when he suffers for it.*_

*DO NOT GIVE UP IN YOUR TIME OF SUFFERING*

_The world will offer you the easy way, but Jesus will offer you the way of the cross which is the way of life. Follow the way of Christ and you will wear the crown of glory in the end. Christ offered Himself for us as a living sacrifice, we must do the same daily for the good of others._

*CHRIST WITHOUT THE CROSS IS FAKE*

_*Anyone preaching Christ without the cross to you is a deceiver and you must rebuke them to get behind you. Thirst for the Lord, follow His way, bear your cross and you will have everlasting life in the end.*_

*LISTEN TO GOD'S VOICE ALWAYS*

_It is not every voice that you listen to. We must learn from Jesus to rebuke those who try to be a clog in the wheel of our progress in our spiritual journey. We must let God's voice and Spirit direct our path._

_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you begin your day and do have a beautiful Sunday. May Jesus give you the grace to bear the cross that comes your way in life. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Jeremiah 20:7-9/Psalm 63:2-6,8-9/Romans 12:1-2/Matthew 16:21-27

*Watch-Word:* Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

*Discipleship involves sacrifice, discipline, and obedience to the one who calls you to follow Him.*

(Twenty Second Sunday in ordinary time. Year A)

*©ï¸ Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*