Daily Devotional

The Psalmist says: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1). This was the joy the people felt in today’s Gospel passage they moment they recognised Jesus. They ran from various neighbourhoods to meet him, bringing their sick with them. Like those who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, let us approach God’s temple, conscious that we will drink from the river of life that flows from it. According to Ezekiel, “Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live.” (Ezekiel 47:9)

The key to being ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’ is showing love to those who need it most: the hungry, the homeless, the naked, the sick, the prisoners and so on. Although Isaiah’s list is not exhaustive, he basically draws our attention to the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy, which are: Feeding the Hungry, Giving Drink to the Thirsty, Sheltering the Homeless, Clothing the Naked, Visiting the Sick, Visiting the Prisoners, and Burying the Dead.

God, very pleased with Solomon’s burnt offering, visited him in a dream and told Solomon to request anything. In response, Solomon began by giving thanks to God for all God had done for David, his father, and for putting him on the throne. Learn to count your blessings. One who has not learnt to say ‘thank you’ lacks the right to ask for more. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to praise God before asking for our daily bread.