True joy and gratitude

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Twenty-first Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 30 August 2023
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13   <*((((>< + ><))))*>   Matthew 24:42-51

Loving Father,
it is always good 
to be affirmed,
to be praised, 
to be accepted;
but, like St. Paul,
there is no greater joy
for me than to be your
servant and vessel 
of grace!

Keep me simple
and humble,
to desire nothing 
but to do your will
and bring people
closer to you,
not me.

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received it not as a word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Remind me always,
dear Lord, to share
only Jesus,
always Jesus;
let me learn to leave
the scene immediately
after I have accomplished
your will; most of all,
may the people I serve 
forget me to only remember
you alone.
Amen.