You are not going to live forever in this world and you do not know if tomorrow will come for you. And No this is not a doomsday message but a simple fact. What are you doing today so that you might have hope of eternal life with the Lord your God?
For the world will always distract you and lead you into thinking you have lots of time to change and be changed. So many having gone for a retreat, pilgrimage, prayer meeting, healing service; had encountered our Lord Jesus but have now abandoned Him for the busyness of their lives. Others concentrate on building up their material wealth for themselves yet in the guise of doing so for their families. What good is that if you are absent from your family? From the Lord your God? If you do not turn back to the Lord now and be reconciled, sin will build upon sin and at the end of your time you’ll be lost for all eternity.
Too many still do not realise how great a sin it is to neglect the Lord our God. For a relationship with Him is most important for our own well being, not His. He simply loves us and wants us to live our lives to the fullest in His love.
Lord Jesus let me be your salt and light in the world, to share Your love with all. Amen
First reading
Ecclesiasticus 5:1-10 †
Do not delay your return to the Lord
Do not give your heart to your money, or say, ‘With this I am self-sufficient.’
Do not be led by your appetites and energy to follow the passions of your heart.
And do not say, ‘Who has authority over me?’ for the Lord will certainly be avenged on you.
Do not say, ‘I sinned, and what happened to me?’ for the Lord’s forbearance is long.
Do not be so sure of forgiveness that you add sin to sin.
And do not say, ‘His compassion is great, he will forgive me my many sins’;
for with him are both mercy and wrath, and his rage bears heavy on sinners.
Do not delay your return to the Lord, do not put it off day after day;
for suddenly the Lord’s wrath will blaze out, and at the time of vengeance you will be utterly destroyed.
Do not set your heart on ill-gotten gains, they will be of no use to you on the day of disaster.
Gospel
Mark 9:41-50
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’
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