The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082914.cfm) reminds me that God would one day call us and give us permanent rest.
Almost everyone I know is excited for Fridays. Everyone looks forward to weekends. To resting, To enjoying time with family and friends. To get off work. However, today, we are reminded not only of weekend temporary rest and recreation, but our forever rest with God.
As we commemorate the Passion of John the Baptist, we are reminded to look beyond the grief of death, and see it as a permanent resting time with God.
John was a faithful worker of God. Even before he personally met Jesus, he was working hard to prepare the way for Jesus. And he continued doing God’s work even after that. He tirelessly worked and served God, even to the point of suffering and as we see in today’s gospel, death.
John may have had a cruel death, but it was a start to a glorious life in heaven with God.
He may have had a difficult and challenging life here on earth doing God’s work, but we know that God will reward him forever in heaven.
We may feel like this as we work for God. The world doesn’t reward those not of it. We may not have a very easy and fun life on earth as we do God’s work, but we are reminded that God will reward us when we meet him in heaven. Temporary pain and challenges for everlasting joy and happiness.
May we be faithful and remember that working for God may not pay much here on earth, but his retirement benefit is out of this world.
Father God,
Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. thank you for another weekend coming up. Lord, I thank you for the gift of life. May I make the most out of it by serving and loving you. Give me strength to do your work, and help me leep my focus on you as I experience challenges. Amen..
Blessed Friday!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
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