A WORD FOR TODAY 31 AUGUST 2023

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*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*BE A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD*

_"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time” (Matthew 24:45)_

_*There is no leader more lucky than the one who has a worthy assistant. There is no one more lucky than the one who has people he can rely on in times of distress. For a person to be reliable he must have built some virtues which includes discipline, hardwork, diligence and perseverance. Simply put: a dependable person is a person of virtues.*_

_In the Gospel, the Lord has used a dependable servant to represent a faithful Christian. A faithful Christian should be disciplined, hardworking and full of forbearance in every task especially those that concern his spiritual life. There are no short cuts to faithfulness. Faithfulness is built. The master has to be able to hand over to you the care of your family, work, parish, nation or business and go to sleep because, he is certain you will do a good job._

_*Our Lord is surely going to return to judge the world. Let us work hard so that he would find us to be faithful servants. Consequently, today and always is the time to take seriously every assignment we have especially those in our families and the house of God. These are the key areas where we are responsible for God’s household.*_

_Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our body is the household of God. We cannot afford to do as we please with ourselves because we are not our own. God created us and he has also redeemed us from the captivity of sin, hence we belong to God. And so we cannot dress inappropriately, eat unhealthy or act sinfully and claim we can do what we like because it is our body. My dear, our bodies belong to God, and so we shall account for it._

_*Again today, there is a new opportunity to try even as the month comes to a close today. Let us draw a close to both bad spiritual and temporal habits which endanger all that God has put in our care. Let us fill our hearts with the love of God and do right. Let us stand firm in the Lord as we await his coming again.*_

_Good morning dearest one. God bless you as the month comes to an end. Stay alert. Be happy. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a splendid day. May the *Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* 1 Thessalonians 3:7–13/Psalm 90:3–5a, 12–13, 14 and 17 /Matthew 24:42–51

*Watch-Word:* We can not afford to do as we please with our selves because we are not our own.

_*Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.*_

(Thursday of the Twenty first week in ordinary time.)

*©ï¸ Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*