Daily Devotional

To think that someone’s light has to go off before yours can shine is to have a very limited mindset, which is the opposite of God’s mind. The funny thing is that in trying to quench others’ light, we only succeed in making them shine brighter, and then, we destroy ours. The householder demanded a harvest from the vineyard because He knew what the vineyard could produce. God expects us to shine rather than fight others because of their gifts.

In today’s First Reading, God speaks: “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the mind and try the heart to give to every man according to his ways and the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The rich man did not go to hell because he was rich; neither did Lazarus enter heaven solely based on his poverty. Just as there are many wealthy people in heaven, there are many who died wretched and are in hell. I may be poor materially, but if my heart is corrupt and evil (turned away from God), I cannot enter heaven.

Drinking the Cup Does Not guarantee seats of Honour; serving Others Does. Jesus said to James and John: “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right and left is not mine to grant but those whom my Father has prepared.” Whether we like it or not, we will all face tough times, but the weight of our crosses does not translate into the type of seats we would occupy in heaven. Jesus said, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first must be your slave.”