1ST NOVEMBER

ABOUNDING IN GOOD WORKS

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain (1Corinthians 15:58)

People work diligently with the hope of financial rewards, pleasure and honour. Not all the hours of our work yield apparent tangible results but most often they all work together to achieve the goal.
In the same way, let us not be discouraged when we labour in the Lord’s vineyard and do not see or receive the expected results immediately. Even when we plant different seeds at the same time, they may take different lengths of time for each to sprout and bear fruits.

What stimulates us to abound in work of the Lord? God does all things for us out of love. Let us also labour out of love for the One who loved us first. We have the assurance that our diligent and sacrificial efforts are not in vain. We have rewards here on earth but there is a far greater reward of the hope of the resurrection and future glory.

“For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever” (1 Corinthians 15:53, TLB).

ACTION: Resolve not to stop doing good, even if the rewards do not come immediately.

PRAYER: Teach me, good Lord, To serve you as you deserve To give and not to count the cost To fight and not to heed the wounds To toil and not to seek for rest To labour and not to ask for any reward Save that of knowing that we do your will. Amen (Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola)