Daily Readings - Thu Aug 26 2021
1 Thessalonians
7As a result, we were consoled in you, brothers, in the midst of all our difficulties and tribulations, through your faith8For we now live so that you may stand firm in the Lord9For what thanks would we be able to repay to God because of you, for all the joy with which we rejoice over you before our God10For night and day, ever more abundantly, we are praying that we may see your face, and that we may complete those things that are lacking in your faith11But may God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you12And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in your charity toward one another and toward all, just as we also do toward you13in order to confirm your hearts without blame, in sanctity, before God our Father, unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints. Amen
Matthew
42Therefore, be vigilant. For you do not know at what hour your Lord will return43But know this: if only the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly keep vigil and not permit his house to be broken into44For this reason, you also must be prepared, for you do not know at what hour the Son of man will return45Consider this: who is a faithful and prudent servant, who has been appointed by his lord over his family, to give them their portion in due time46Blessed is that servant, if, when his lord has arrived, he shall find him doing so47Amen I say to you, he shall appoint him over all of his goods48But if that evil servant has said in his heart, ‘My lord has been delayed in returning,49and so, he begins to strike his fellow servants, and he eats and drinks with the inebriated50then the lord of that servant will arrive on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know51And he shall separate him, and he shall place his portion with the hypocrites, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the importance of faithfulness and preparedness in our relationship with God. In the first reading from 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul expresses his deep joy and gratitude for the steadfast faith of the Thessalonian community despite the trials and tribulations they endured. He prays for their continued growth in holiness and for the grace to be reunited with them. This passage highlights the mutual support and encouragement that should exist between believers, as well as the hope of ultimate union with Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us to be vigilant and prepared for His return. Using the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants, He emphasizes the importance of living in such a way that we are ready to meet Him at any moment. The faithful servant is diligent in fulfilling his duties, while the unfaithful one becomes complacent and neglects his responsibilities. This parable serves as a warning to remain faithful and not to take God’s mercy for granted, lest we face judgment.
Together, these readings call us to live with purpose and integrity, trusting in God’s plan while being mindful of our responsibility to remain faithful. In our daily lives, we are invited to imitate the Thessalonians by standing firm in our faith despite challenges, and to embrace the attitude of the faithful servant by being attentive to our duties and living in a way that reflects our love for God. Let us ask for the grace to keep our hearts focused on Him, so that we may be found faithful when He comes.