Friday 19th September – Friday of week 24 of the year

Reflection: Psalm 17: 1, 6-8, 15

AND MY JOY SHALL BE FULL

Our glory, our crown, the strength of our faith, our anchor and sure hope is laid in Christ. This hope is that beyond the horizon of life on earth, our lives shall be transformed into that blessed life, when we shall be like Christ, and we shall see God as he really is! This is the hope (and what a sure hope) of every believer. This is our earnest longing, to be with Christ. Yet, before that hope is realized in us, two great obstacles must be crossed: we must pass through earthly life, and then, we must pass through death, before our life can be immortally transformed fully into the life of God.

In the Gospel reading of today, we see those who “journeyed” with Christ, and who spent their lives and their means on the daily needs of Christ and His apostles. They did so, out of love and commitment to Christ, knowing their reward will be great at the end. Yet, the Church in Corinth doubted the reality of that reward, in doubting the resurrection of the dead. Hence St Paul had to explain to them in today’s first reading that Christ’s resurrection gives us the hope of eternal life and is itself the backbone of our faith, without which our Christian faith is in vain. For indeed, at death, it seems all is vain, all seems is lost.

But, this is our faith; that death is not the end of the journey, that beyond the horizon, Christ eagerly awaits us, to transform our mortal bodies into His glorious body. Beloved, this hope is worth working for, it is worth hoping for and it is worth dying for. For, in the end, when that Glory appears, our hearts shall be full…

In the very end, only one thing matters: To be with God! Desire it, Desire it, and Desire it!!!

PRAYER: Lord, in your mercy, preserve us for your glory. Amen

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 158 – What is heaven?

Heaven is the endless moment of love. Nothing more separates us from God, whom our soul loves and has sought our whole life long. Together with all the angels and saints we will be able to rejoice forever in and with God.

HIDE A TREASURE: “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied” 1 Corinthians 15: 19 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20; Psalm17: 1, 6-8, 15; Luke 8:1-3