Reflection for Thursday August 27 Memorial of Saint Monica: Matthew 24:42-51

Gospel: Matthew 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.  

“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who decided to permanently stay in her newly built house. During the two years she had lived there, she had the house blessed three times already. Her reason was that she always had a feeling that something eerie might happen to her in that house. When she was asked if she always made time for God, she said that she did not.

What does it mean to stay awake? It means to always be ready for whatever may come into our lives. We must remind ourselves that life is full of surprises. We cannot predict what may happen to us in the next few seconds or minutes. We may carefully plan our day, secure our possessions, and prepare for the uncertainties of life, yet there will always be things beyond our control.

This is why earthly preparation is always prudent, but nothing compares with being spiritually prepared. Spiritual preparation is the best preparation we could ever make because it prepares not only our minds but, more importantly, our hearts. Whatever may come our way, we will be better able to face it when we are spiritually prepared.

Why? Because we are connected with God. When God is at the center of our lives, we have the strength to face our fears, the courage to endure our trials, and the faith to remain steadfast amid life's uncertainties. And who could ultimately bring us down if God is with us? Nobody!

Let us, therefore, always be prepared by nurturing a special bond with Jesus. We can begin by reading about His life in the Bible and by making ourselves available for the Holy Mass, especially on Sundays. Through prayer, the Sacraments, and acts of love and service, we continually strengthen our relationship with Him. These are not merely religious practices; they are ways of keeping our hearts awake and our souls close to God.

There may be moments when fear enters our hearts, just as it did for the woman in the story. But instead of allowing fear to control us, let us allow our faith to lead us closer to God. We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but we know the One who holds tomorrow in His hands. We may not be able to prepare for every event that will happen in our lives, but we can always prepare our hearts to remain faithful to Jesus whatever happens.

Let us not wait for fear, suffering, or an unexpected event to remind us of our need for God. Let us seek Him while we have the opportunity. Let us stay spiritually awake—not because we are afraid of what might happen, but because we love God and desire to remain close to Him.

Are we truly prepared—not only for whatever life may bring, but for the day when Jesus calls us home? And if that day were to come today, would our hearts be ready to meet Him?— Marino J. Dasmarinas