A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 24:42-51)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Jesus tells the disciples to be vigilant for the coming of the Son of Man. In the first reading, Saint Paul in his Letter to the Thessalonians echoes the Lord’s words: “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all . . . so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.” Today’s readings speak to the importance of vigilance and faithful stewardship in relation to the Second Coming and final judgment of Christ.
Father in heaven, help me remember to return to you throughout the day in awareness of your presence. Give me the grace to be vigilant today and every day of the coming of your Son. Help me live out each day with a sense of urgency, faithfully taking responsibility for your gifts and living in accordance with your will. Bless me with your care, and make me an instrument of your love and mercy.
From the responsorial psalm: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.