Vigilant

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120118.cfm) reminds me that I should be vigilant and ready for God's calling. 

How easy it is to be tangled up with the demands and troubles of our daily lives. It's easy to be distracted from the things that really matter. We give up a lot of things for work, business, or things needed to make a living. We sacrifice our time with family, friends, and even time to rest for ourselves. Sadly, we may also tend to sacrifice time for God. 

We should make a living so we can live, not live to make a living.

Jesus warns us about this in the gospel. It is very easy to be distracted with the things of this world, so we should be extra vigilant. We should always be ready and prepared for his second coming. We should not allow the enemy to distract us from doing what we should, to distract us from serving our one true God. Our focus should remain on God, not on things of the world. These things, no matter how innocent and harmless they seem, should not prevent us from serving God, from working for God. 

Given this, it will not be always easy. When you are working for God, you are not of the world, and the world will hate you like it did Jesus. However, we should remember what the first reading reminds us - that Jesus will come again. He will come again soon. The world is temporary, with it the powers and things of the world. Until we meet Christ again, life will not always be easy. However, we should have faith in Christ, and follow what Jesus said

Am I ready to meet God? Am I preparing myself for his coming? How can I prepare myself more for him? 

May we always be vigilant and live ready always for God's second coming. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the many times I ignore you. Sorry for letting myself get distracted by things of this world. Sorry for letting myself be tricked by the enemy to focus on this world and not on you. Help me remember what is important. Help me always be vigilant. Help me be wise and know where to put you in my life. May I always live knowing your place in my heart. May I always be ready for your second coming. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 1, 2018

Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 508

Reading 1 RV 22:1-7

John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
“Behold, I am coming soon.”
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7AB

R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Alleluia LK 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”