Wednesday 17th September – Wednesday of week 24 of the year

Reflection: 1 Corinthians 12: 31- 13:13

WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION?

We have expectations and aspirations for each day. These may be in line with an ongoing effort to fulfil or realise a set of goals, or it may altogether be the start of a new pursuit. Whichever way it is, man must necessarily hope for something; otherwise he begins to die. He dies not primarily from the dissolution of his mortal frame but from the void of meaning to life. Hope gives meaning to life; it summons our inner endowment to task. He who has nothing to hope for has nothing to live for! Since we live by hope, we are necessarily ambitious beings.

Although the pursuit of our ambitions and dreams gives drive to life, their achievement does not automatically grant fulfilment. Too many have sought and achieved fame, wealth, career, prestige, power etc., yet died unfulfilled. It was all vanity (Ecclesiastes 2: 3-11).

Fulfilment in life demands a higher requirement. It demands that our dreams and aspirations be born out of and nurtured in love. This is a lesson we can learn from today’s reading. Until the love of God and neighbour becomes the propelling force behind our ambitions, they will not give us fulfilment. Love purifies our motive, moderates the excesses of the human heart and grants us an indomitable will to overcome life’s challenges.

Beloved, what is your ambition in life? Does it reflect a willingness to honour God and positively impact the society or is it purely selfish and self-seeking? Let us not perpetuate the mistakes of many whom after living for themselves found nothing but emptiness in life. If love governs our ambitions in life, we will find fulfilment accompanying.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please unite my heart with yours that my life pursuits will be motivated by love. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 468 – What should a person yearn for most?

The ultimate and greatest longing of a person can only be for God. To see him, our Creator, Lord, and Redeemer, is unending blessedness.

HIDE A TREASURE: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” Proverbs 14:12 RSV-CE

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 12: 31- 13:13; Psalm 33: 2-5, 12, 22; Luke 7: 31-35