If we sought the wisdom of the Lord our God in all matters, would we ever be downtrodden or in disarray? If we remained faithful and obedient to His Word and Will for us, will we ever need Him to give us a sign? ”My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jn 10:27
Let us instead be a sign of God’s love! Let us be seen as joyful even in the face of trials and adversity. Not because we portray a false front but rather we are joyful, because we carry the presence of our Lord with us. We love unconditionally because He first loved us. We tend to the sick, the poor and the downtrodden because we Jesus our Lord in them. For our Lord had told us said, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25:40
Lord Jesus let me be a sign of Your love in the World. Amen
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First reading
James 1:1-11
Your faith is put to the test so that your patience may make you complete
From James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion.
My brothers, you will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing.
If there is any one of you who needs wisdom, he must ask God, who gives to all freely and ungrudgingly; it will be given to him. But he must ask with faith, and no trace of doubt, because a person who has doubts is like the waves thrown up in the sea when the wind drives. That sort of person, in two minds, wavering between going different ways, must not expect that the Lord will give him anything.
It is right for the poor brother to be proud of his high rank, and the rich one to be thankful that he has been humbled, because riches last no longer than the flowers in the grass; the scorching sun comes up, and the grass withers, the flower falls; what looked so beautiful now disappears. It is the same with the rich man: his business goes on; he himself perishes.
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Gospel
Mark 8:11-13
No sign shall be given to this generation
The Pharisees came up and started a discussion with Jesus; they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to test him. And with a sigh that came straight from the heart he said, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’ And leaving them again and re-embarking, he went away to the opposite shore.
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