The Catholic Calendar for Friday, August 26, 2005
Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 10-12
Matthew 25:1-13

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Therefore, stay awake. . ."

Live each day as though there were no tomorrow, because indeed, we are not promised a tomorrow. Jesus' central message here is to be prepared at all time to meet the King--don't be caught unawares.

How can we prepare to meet the King? First, we can pray daily. The best of these prayers is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and that is supplemented by the perfection of the Liturgy of the Hours. But we can also pray the Rosary, the Divine Mercy, and adore God in silence. We can sit in joyful wonder and await the word of the Lord. We can pray our work and our sorrow. We can offer each day up with the Morning Offering and we can seal each day with an Examination of Conscience and a small confession asking God to strengthen us and see us home.

There are a great many writers today who have books about the coming apocalypse--writers who claim to know the time and the way that Jesus will appear. But Jesus tells us with certainty--no one knows that. Jesus Himself did not know it in His time on Earth and no earthly prophet can predict it. Moreover, even if one could say with certainty when the world will end for everyone, no one can say with certainty when it will end for anyone. There is nothing to say that we will not be called to meet the King before the time all are called. So heed Jesus' words and like the wise Virgins, be prepared to greet the King whenever He may come.

- JuandelaCruz

(http://floscarmeli.stblogs.org/)

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