Becoming Good and be Saved

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday of 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, August 26th, 2021
Texts: 1Thess. 3:7-13; Ps. 90:3-4.12-14.17; Mtt. 24:42-51
We do not become good by some instances of good deeds but by constant practice of good deeds. Salvation belongs to those who are good, those who are committed to doing good, not those who do good when it is convenient. The good do good always. Hence, in today's gospel reading, Jesus says, “Watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect." What Jesus tells us in those words is to be good. The good have no need of fear of the Lord's coming, for they are always ready and prepared. The faithful are those who do the right thing whether the master is there or not.
It is the good who win the favour of their masters. It is on this note that the evil present themselves as good. The good win the favour of the master and rule with him. Hence, Jesus says, "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions." God wants us to be good that we may enjoy His grace and blessings. We enjoy the grace of God when it is operative in us, that is, working and bearing fruits in us.
When we are good, God finds joy and pride in us, that is, we become His delight and gladden His heart. When we are good, we become source of joy to our loved ones. In today's first reading, St. Paul says, "Brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith". Let us be good and bring joy to our loved ones. In the reading, St. Paul also told the people of his coming to visit them. The people were to continue in their good deeds as they wait for Him to come. He prayed thus: "and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints." As we wait for the Lord we are to increase and be abound in love for one another and the whole human race after the likeness of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, pour out Your grace on us and make us good, increase  and abount in love. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke