DIVINE UPLIFT AND CORRESPONDING RESPONSIBILITY

⏰Thursday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (14 June 2018)

📖1 Kgs 18:41-46; Ps 65:10abcd, 10c-11, 12-13 (R.v.2ab); Matt 5:20-26

The hand of the LORD was on Elijah (1Kings 18:46) and so he was able to do unimaginable things and especially, winning the people over to God. Notice in that passage how Ahab, who was filled with hatred over Elijah before was now respecting Elijah in all things. That was because the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah.

Child of God, listen! As we noted yesterday, divine touch brings liberation, healing and uplift. When you encounter the divine touch:
👉those that call you a pauper would marvel at your blessing;
👉those that call you barren would begin to ask after your children;
👉those that call you sickler would testify to your fitness;
👉those that call you nobody before would begin to seek you out for recognition.

Those and more are the benefits of divine encounter.

Note that divine encounter does not mean going to all kinds of prayer houses and attending all the crusades around you. It does not mean changing from one Church to another. It rather means being into relationship with God.

Love translates this relationship perfectly because GOD IS LOVE (1John 4:16).

When Jesus says that your righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and the Pharisees (Matt 5:20), he is simply pointing to the importance of living beyond the constraints of the letters of the law and living in love, in the spirit of the law. The law is a guide to God’s blessing (cf. Deut 30:19-20) but love is the greatest law (cf. Matt 22:36-40).

So, do you need divine blessing in your life? Try love first! Love conquers all things (read 1Cor 13:1-13).

May God grant us the grace to love him and our neighbour beyond self-glory so that we may be disposed to receive his blessings for us. Amen.

Have a blessed day under the loving guide of the Lord. Peace be with you dear.