Today’s first reading gives us angelic advice, “Bless God and acknowledge him in the presence of all the living for the good things he has done for you. With fitting honor declare to all people the deeds of God. Do not be slow to acknowl- edge him.”

We are called to Bless God and acknowledge what he does in our lives. I am challenged as I read to question myself how often do I Bless the Lord? Do I acknowledge him in the presence of others? Do I testify for the immeasurable things, signs & wonders in my life and in my family?

I remember the time I came to the CRL meetings first. I was amazed to see & hear people testifying to the things God was doing in their lives. It helped me to see the hand of God in my life and in the events where it concerned me. But over time I was getting used to it and lost the intensity of these. There were signs but they were no longer wonders. As a result, I only Blessed God & gave him glory & honor when I was at a meeting. I needed another knock on the head to get my bearings right. How can any blessing come to me when I was not blessing God or declaring him and what he does in front of the others?

In the Gospel proclamation our Lord Jesus opens our eyes to another group of people whose characteristics were aligning with mine. He was referring to the scribes, but there was a scribe in me as well. One who pretended to praise & participate in the meetings or went for mass and passed the time in my own world of thoughts yet pretended to be holier than the rest. The Lord showed me that in-spite of my sinfulness like the widow who offered the little she had, if I raise him up, blessed him, give the truth of my heart, he could still turn things around for me because He is God above all every other thing.

When God becomes our center, when we Bless him & acknowledge him things start to change in our lives. When we testify for Him, we are empowered to live for him.

Prayer; Abba Father, give us a heart of worship & help us to keep our focus on you, through every day of our lives. Amen.