Today’s Readings:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17; Psalm 96:10-13; Matthew 23:23-26
If you are reading this message, I have good news for you: You are alive. Only the living can hope for better things. Yes, you may be feeling discouraged that you have been waiting on God for one blessing or the other. You may even have a deadline and it does not look as if you are going to meet it. Anxiety has gotten the best of you and you are almost giving up. I have another good news for you. It is a prayer by Saint Paul: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace (in the Holy Spirit), such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in everything good that you do or say”. I want you to understand what you have just read before you say "Amen". The prayer says that God loves you. God has given you grace (most young people today speak of “Big Energy”. There is none greater than the grace of God!). God also wants to give you INEXHAUSTIBLE COMFORT. This is for those moments when you feel like you can no longer go on. Those times you have doubted that God will grant you that admission, or job or marriage partner or visa application or your own children. God is there for you. He wants to give you a SURE HOPE. Hope in God never fails. What is impossible for man is easy for God.
The devil can only roar and rage but he cannot do shi shi. When the enemy whispers in your ears, asking you to give up, to end your life or close your mind to the possibility of victory, filling you with negative thoughts, shout back, "Devil you are a liar." God also wants to strengthen you through the good things that you do. Let your good works speak and stand for you. Note that this prayer by Saint Paul is for those who are doing their best to stay on the straight and narrow path, the path of holiness and righteousness. It is not for those who want to cut corners to gain favour. The favour that God gives, He does not want anyone to take credit for it.
My younger sister waited six years to gain admission into a higher institution. It was not because she was not intelligent. She beat the cut off for all the courses she applied for each year. She got better in her UTME scores every year. Yet, she had to wait for her season of victory. Some even teased her, "She you pray to Saint Rita, let her give you admission". When God gave her admission, even those in the school we had called to assist with securing her admission were dumbfounded and asked, “Who did it for her?” God does not share his glory with anyone. He only demands that we trust him and take seriously the things that He has called us to.
Jesus tells us what we ought to focus on as we wait for the victory season of our lives:
Justice: Do right by God and treat others fairly without biased.
Mercy: Be quick to forgive and never bear a grudge.
Good Faith: Believe that God will bless you just as He has blessed others.
Generosity: Assist those you see to be in need.
Self-control: Watch your thoughts and emotions at all times, especially when you feel frustrated, sad and worried.
Never extorting anyone or taking advantage of others because you are in an advantaged position. You will be in need tomorrow.
Also stand firm by reading the Scriptures and never get tired of praying and calling on the help of our Blessed Mother and the saints, your patron saint(s). Call on Saints Rita and St Jude Thaddeus, the patron saints of impossible and difficult cases.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the salvation of my soul, in Jesus name.
My doors of opportunities presently shut, open by fire, in Jesus name.
Mantle of great things, fall on me, in the name of Jesus.
Father grant unto the body of Christ the mind of Christ, forgiving spirit, tolerance, genuine repentance, understanding, submission, humility, brokenness, watchfulness and the mind to commend others better than ourselves, in Jesus.
Lord, let righteousness reign in every part of this nation, in Jesus name.
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