True blessedness from God

WORD 2day: Friday, 18th week in Ordinary time 

August 5, 2022: Nahum 2:1-3, 3:1-3, 6,7; Matthew 16: 24-28

Today we hear the hope giving words of Nahum. But just a few days earlier we heard from Jeremiah a sharp criticism of the self proclaimed prophet Hananiah, saying the prophecies of prosperity can be accepted as such only after the things prophesied come to pass. However the words of Hananiah were soon proved to be mere search for popular acceptance!

Nahum's promise of the restoration of God's people is not merely a pleasing statement on the part of the messenger. It comes combined with a call to be prepared, alert and girded. Jesus takes that a step forward to say, it takes a ready acceptance of the daily cross and a loving preparedness to walk in the ways of the Lord, to experience the true "blessedness" from God.

Prosperity, fame, popularity, joy, sense of fulfilment, peace and a sense of being loved... these are ofcourse signs of God's blessings. But they cannot be the main focus in our daily life, instructs Jesus. When we strive to live acceptable in the eyes of God, all the rest will follow.

Thus, what really matters is..the true "blessedness" in the sight of God!