GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 10TH SEPTEMBER 2016
SATURDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: 1Corinthians 10:14-22
PSALM: Psalm 115:12-13, 17-18
GOSPEL: Luke 6:43-49
THEME: ACT ON THE WORD
The floods of life often break in unexpectedly and they manifest themselves in different forms – problems in relationships, financial crisis, health challenges and many others. These floods have the potency to erode and sweep away a whole life’s project. People have been brought to ground zero just because of one or the other flood of life. Faith in Jesus does not take away the storms of life but makes us weather the storm.
In our Gospel text, Jesus gives a profound teaching on the dynamics of faith – “I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them” (Lk. 6:47). Three key action words (verbs) stand out in the text – COME, HEAR and ACT.
Jesus lays particular emphasis on the third action word – ACT – when he says, “The one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house” (Lk. 6:49).
Putting the word of God into action is an anchor of faith. Even if the floods should hit hard and cause some damage, the anchor would still hold and divine restoration would take place. When we take the Word of God to heart, it transforms our hearts and makes them sound and “there is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit” (Lk 6:43).
A man or woman of the Word is “like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he/she prospers” (Ps 1:3). When we honour the Word of God in our lives, God honours us by transforming our pains into gains.
Prayer: Eternal Father, your Word is the answer to every question I have, the solution to every problem of mine and the strength I need in the face of my weakness. Here and now, I yield completely to the power of your Word. Cause a revival in me and make me bear fruits to glorify your name. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).