One Minute Reflection – 30 August – Thursday of the Twenty-first week in Ordinary Time, Year B – Today’s Gospel: Matthew 24:42–51
Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming...Matthew 24:42
REFLECTION – “We must sleep in such a way as to be easily awakened. For Scripture says, “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.” (Lk 12:35-36). For a sleeping man is of no more use than a dead man. Therefore we ought often to get up at night and bless God.
Blessed are those who watch for Him and so make themselves like the angels, whom we call “watchers”. A man asleep is worth nothing, no more than if he were dead. But whoever has the light keeps watch and “darkness does not overcome him” (Jn 1:5) neither sleep. Whoever has been illumined is therefore wakened to God and such a person is alive, “for what came to be in him was life.” (Jn 1:4) “Happy the man,” says Wisdom,”who obeys me and happy those who keep my ways, happy the man watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts” (Pr 8:34)…St Clement of Alexandria (150-215) Father of the Church
PRAYER – God our Saviour, through the grace of Baptism you made us children of light. Hear our prayer, that we may always walk in that light and work for truth, love and charity, as Your witnesses before men. Dispel from our hearts the darkness of sin and keep us ever watchful for the true light, Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God forever. St Jeanne Jugan, you lived a life of total charity ever watchful to the needs of your neighbour, please pray for us, amen.
AnaStpaul 