Be vigilant at all times
Published Nov 26, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Life has been difficult for many people since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many plans had been aborted and many were brokenhearted. We grieved over the loss of people closest to us who had died because of the virus. Many young people, especially those unable to attend school, grew anxious and looked at the future with uncertainty. When will the pandemic definitively end? Can we return to the life we enjoyed prior to the pandemic? Or is everything taking a spiral downturn? Face to face with this predicament, we either flee or fight. We flee by living in a fantasy world characterized by “carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.” Jesus warns us against these in today’s Gospel, telling us that such kind of empty life can lead us to the snare or to the trap of damnation. Jesus counsels us, instead, towards watchfulness. It is a positive attitude borne of acceptance of realities, rather than a form of escape. We fight the temptation of boredom and despair by praying. We learn wonderful life-lessons out of our experience of the pandemic, like caring for one another by putting up a community pantry, by being still with God, and spending time with our family.
First Reading • 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.
Gospel • Luke 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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Life has been difficult for many people since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many plans had been aborted and many were brokenhearted. We grieved over the loss of people closest to us who had died because of the virus. Many young people, especially those unable to attend school, grew anxious and looked at the future with uncertainty. When will the pandemic definitively end? Can we return to the life we enjoyed prior to the pandemic? Or is everything taking a spiral downturn? Face to face with this predicament, we either flee or fight. We flee by living in a fantasy world characterized by “carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.” Jesus warns us against these in today’s Gospel, telling us that such kind of empty life can lead us to the snare or to the trap of damnation. Jesus counsels us, instead, towards watchfulness. It is a positive attitude borne of acceptance of realities, rather than a form of escape. We fight the temptation of boredom and despair by praying. We learn wonderful life-lessons out of our experience of the pandemic, like caring for one another by putting up a community pantry, by being still with God, and spending time with our family.
First Reading • 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.
Gospel • Luke 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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.