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Because some nameless person had the courage to care for an unwanted orphan, Mercy Goodfaith learned how to love and has multiplied that love a hundred times over. My prayer for you today is that God will give you the COURAGE to care!

Thursday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14+7bc

L uke 9:7-9 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, (8) by some that Eli'jah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. (9) Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.

Meditation by Don Schwager

W ho do you most admire? People with power, influence, fame or wealth? Scripture warns us of such danger (see Proverbs 23:1-2). King Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however, did not fear to rebuke Herod for his adulterous affair with his brother's wife. Herod, however, was more of a people pleaser than a God pleaser. Herod not only imprisoned John to silence him, but he also beheaded him simply to please his family and friends. Now when reports of Jesus' miracles and teaching reach Herod's court, Herod becomes very troubled in conscience. He thinks that John the Baptist has risen from the dead! Herod sought to meet Jesus more out of curiosity and fear than out of a sincere desire to know God's wisdom and truth.

Who is most influential in your life? And who do you most want to be like? We naturally look up to other people we want to imitate. If we truly want to be like God and to live as his sons and daughters, then it greatly helps us to have models and examples of godly people who show us how to live in the power of God's love and holiness.God's grace frees us from the tyranny of fear and the pressure to please others rather than to please God. Do you allow God's grace to fill you with faith and courage to choose what is good and pleasing to him and to reject whatever would keep you from embracing his love and will for your daily life?

"Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and deepen his life within me that I may be like him in word and in deed. Increase my eagerness to do your will and help me to grow in the knowledge of your love and truth."

Supplementary Reading

Have Courage! 

So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" -Hebrews 13:6

Y ears ago a person went to an orphanage and asked, "Is there any orphan here that nobody wants?"

The matron answered, "Indeed there is. She's ten years old, ugly to look at, and has a very horrible hunchback. In fact, the only decent thing about her is her name - Mercy Goodfaith."

The inquirer said, "That's exactly the child I want," and together they left.

Thirty-five years later, the head of the Orphanage Inspection Department in the state of Iowa turned in a report about another orphanage, saying, "This home is outstanding. It is clean, the food is good, and the matron of the place has a soul that oozes love. All of the children are well cared for and show the effects of the matron's love. As they gathered at the piano following dinner, I observed an atmosphere unlike any I have seen in my work. Never have I seen such beautiful eyes as in that matron. They were so stunning that I almost forgot how homely her face was and how unattractive was the hunchback. Her name is Mercy Goodfaith."

Because some nameless person had the courage to care for an unwanted orphan, Mercy Goodfaith learned how to love and has multiplied that love a hundred times over. My prayer for you today is that God will give you the COURAGE to care!

God, I dare to believe that You are giving me the courage to care enough to do something wonderful today! Help me to overcome my shortcomings and to use the gifts with which You have blessed me. Give me the courage to care. Amen. – Joel & Victoria Osteen

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

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