The Bible shows that obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings cursings. Today’s first reading makes that very clear. The responsorial Psalm also makes that clear. However, it is not as apparent in the Gospel if you miss one word. That one word is used so often by Jesus but is frequently overlooked. That word is THEREFORE.
Whenever you read your Bible and see the word THEREFORE, read what precedes it. You have to pay attention to what THEREFORE is there for.
God says he will take care of and love and provide for us. Yet God is also saying that our love for him must be above our love for anything else or anyone else. Our love for God must be a priority above all other thoughts. The God we serve is a God of order.
On the top of our report cards in Catholic grade school, it said that our purpose in life is to give honor and glory to God in everything we think, say, and do. Let us do our best today for God’s glory and our good and the good of those around us.
Father Eymard loved Jesus, as evidenced by his life and writings. He says today: May Jesus be adored, loved, and served; the rest is nothing. (Taken from A Year with Father Eymard by Father Erasto Fernandez SSS.)
Let Us Pray:
Dear heavenly Father, please help us to keep you at the forefront of our thoughts, words, deeds, and actions. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
