August 30, 2018

Gospel: Mt 24:42-51
Stay awake then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Obviously, if the owner of the house knew at what time the thief was coming, he would certainly stay up and not allow his house to be broken into. So be alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour you least expect. Imagine a faithful and prudent servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time. Fortunate, indeed, is that servant, whom his master will find at work when he comes. Truly I say to you, his lord will entrust him with everything he has. Not so with the bad servant, who thinks, ‘My master is delayed.’ And he begins to ill-treat his fellow servants, while eating and drinking with drunkards. But his master will come on the day he does not know, and at the hour he least expects. He will punish that servant severely; and place with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Reflections
Stay awake then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. On his deathbed, St. Stanislaus Kostka was asked if he feared death. He replied, “None at all. My heart is ready, O God! My heart is ready!” Wheelchair-bound, Karl Rahner was asked whether he feared death. He replied that to die is to be thrust into the awaiting arms of God. We fear dying because of our fear of pain. We may fear death because of the uncertainty of what lies beyond. We may fear judgment because of the manner we have lived our lives. Let us pray for readiness to encounter the Lord at any moment in our life.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2018