Stay awake
Published Aug 27, 2026 12:04 am
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Updated Aug 26, 2026 04:06 pm
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Jesus uses vivid imagery of the “end time” (eschaton) to convey the importance of being always prepared for his return, a theme that resonates deeply with our spiritual journey.
The way of being prepared is shown by the parable of the Servant, entrusted with supervision of the household by his master. The parable invites the disciples to have an active attitude about the coming of Christ. Instead of being paralyzed by inactivity, the disciple must be prudent and dependable in exercising his role of service towards his fellow believers.
On the other hand, to be “unprepared” is to delude oneself into thinking that he will not be held accountable for his behavior.
During the Year of Consecrated Life, Pope Francis urged the consecrated men and women:
“I am counting on you to wake up the world, since the distinctive sign of consecrated life is prophecy…
“Radical evangelical living is not only for religious: it is demanded of everyone…
“Prophets receive from God the ability to scrutinize the times in which they live and to interpret events: they are like sentinels who keep watch in the night and sense the coming of the dawn (cf. Is 21:11-12)…
“They are able to discern and denounce the evil of sin and injustice. Because they are free, they are beholden to no one but God, and they have no interest other than God.
“Prophets tend to be on the side of the poor and the powerless, for they know that God himself is on their side” (Nov. 21, 2014).
First Reading • 1 Cor 1:1-9
Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the Church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 145
“I will praise your name forever, Lord.”
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.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.