Friday, September 18th
Jesus said to His Disciples, "Unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only single grain: but if it dies it yields a rich harvest."
John 12:24

So death brings abundant life when it is offered to the Father, and death is necessary that life may come. It is a natural and a necessary part of life both for the body and the soul.

Enjoy all that the Father gives in things material and spiritual, but recognise each gift as something to be held in trust to be used according to the guiding of Our Holy Spirit. Hold it in your hands as gently as a butterfly and let it go when you are shown: to grasp it to yourself will harm both gift and also your own soul. Continually the Father showers His gifts of life and love, possessions, opportunities on all His children and He rejoices as His faithful ones make them the means of growth within themselves and of the extension of His Kingdom.

And when death comes it will be welcomed by the faithful as that same exercise in offering which they learnt and practised in their life. So will they find the peace which passes knowledge and the joy that has no ending in the glorious Presence of Eternal Love.