A WORD FOR TODAY 30 AUGUST 2021

*A WORD FOR TODAY

*NEVER GIVE UP IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

_"When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. But passing through the midst of them he went away."(Matthew 4:28-30)_

_*The mission of Christ to proclaim the Good news, proclaim liberty to the captives, restore sight to the blind and release to the oppressed is something he has bequeathed to us. He gave His all in this mission and He has mandated us to do the same as we journey in life.*_

_In the gospel reading of today, Jesus announced to all in the Synagogue that He has come to bring God's healing, freedom and restoration to them and not to destroy them. However, the people inspite of the fact that they enjoyed the things he said could not accept it because of familiarity. They knew him and where he was brought up and it was hard for them to take in the truth he was telling them._

_*They wanted Jesus to do for them the miracle they have heard He did in other places, but their disposition to receive such miracle was very poor and discouraging. There was no faith in their heart. Jesus would have walked away, but He kept speaking the truth to them inspite of the rejection and he was not deterred, but gave his life for the sake of the gospel.*_

_Our mission is also to proclaim Christ everywhere and we are bound to experience rejection in the hands of those who do not know Him or believe in Him. Those who hate the truth will stay away from us when we tell it to them, but that should not stop us or discourage us from doing God's will always._

_*Persecution, trials, temptations, rejection, hardship and suffering are bound to come to those who proclaim the gospel and follow the way of Christ, however we are expected to look up to Jesus who did not give up in His own time, but stayed true until the end. If we suffer and die for the sake of the truth, we shall receive eternal reward in the end.*_

_Proclaiming the Good News is all about doing good, therefore, no matter how difficult the journey gets, do not give up, but keep doing good, keep speaking the truth, keep loving as Christ has loved us and be ready to lay down your life for the sake of Christ and your reward will be great in heaven. You may lose so many friends when you speak the truth, but the truth must be told and if everyother person abandon you, Jesus will never leave you alone for He is the truth, the way and the life._

_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a splendid day and a blessed new week. May Jesus give you the grace not to give up when you experience rejection in the course of proclaiming the gospel. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18/Psalm 96:1,3-5,11-13/Matthew 4:16-30

*Watch-Word:* The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; He has sent me to preach the good news to the poor.

*Never give up in doing what is right even if no one appreciates what you do. God will reward you in the end.*

(Monday of the twenty Second Sunday in the ordinary time. Year 1)