Payday

Readings for Friday August 7, 2009

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-40
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 77
Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28


Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” (Matt. 16:24-28)

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite times of the month is payday. It's one of those days that you just can't help but feel good; for a little while your bank account looks good, and you have just received compensation for your hard work. It is always nice to have that feeling of accomplishment and to know that you have received what is due to you.

I believe that one day, our hard work and dedication to the Lord will result in the biggest payday ever! We see in the gospel today that we will each be repaid according to our conduct. If we are willing to sacrifice on earth and to carry the cross that we are called to, then in the end we will receive compensation beyond our wildest dreams.

Payday is coming, we must ask ourselves if our lives and our conduct reflect the type of life that it should in order to collect? Let us all ask God for the strength to pick up these crosses and to follow Him where ever He leads us.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you are our rock and our shelter, may we always run to you in both good times and bad. Lord, we know that your plan for us is perfect and that your will is what is right, help us to abandon our own plans and to open our hearts and minds to you. We pray for all those in need of conversion and all of our brothers and sisters who have fallen away from the church. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.