“LET US GO WITH YOU, FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU” (Zech 8:23)

⏰Tuesday of the Twenty-Sixth Week of Ordinary Time 1 (03 Oct. 2017 – Memorial of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus)

????Zech 8:20-23; Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R.v.10d); Luke 9:51-56.

Today, the Church in Nigeria celebrates the Memorial of St Thérese of the Child Jesus. The universal Church celebrates this on October 1st but, because of our Independence Day celebration, when we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, the Church in Nigeria got the permission to move this celebration.

This celebration has an interesting message for us, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness…” (Matt 6:33). At a very tender age, St. Thérese started desiring and expressing a deep love for God. She got a permission to join the Carmelites at the age of 15. She was known for her attitude of sacrificing everything she was doing to God. Heaven was her goal.

In Zech 8:8, God promised that if the people keep themselves and remain for him alone, he shall be their God. In that case, everything about them will change and they will rise again from their nothingness.

That explains what happened in Zech 8:20-23. The presence of God among the people changed their fate. Those who used to look down on them because of their would again begin to associate with them in order to also enjoy the favour of God.

So my dear, no matter what happens to you in life, never let go the hands of God. It doesn’t matter if you are standing alone at some point. Do not forget that one with God is the majority. Just as people kept trooping to Jerusalem to be identified with her, so shall they rally around you so as to share in God’s favour around you.

As you place all your hope in God and make effort to remain in him, may he never let you down but raise you up as a sign of his glory. Amen.

Have a blessed day ahead. It is well with you.