The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 25, 2005
The Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
St. Louis
St. Joseph Calasanz

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13
Psalm 90:3-5, 12-14, 17
Matthew 24:42-51

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
(Matthew 24:42)

A prevalent human trait common to both young and old is presenting ourselves to others in the best possible light, especially in situations that can prove to our benefit. This may even extend into our relationship with God. Our successes and failures with fellow humans depend on two related talents--a good memory that retains prevarications or lies, and an acting ability keeping us consistently "in character." Obviously, this trait in not conducive to relaxation, for it springs from a lack of self-worth, fear and distrust.

Our gaining a knowledge of God in Christ is a journey into freedom, since it teaches us to live in the absolute truth of who and what we are. In this world we may feel a need to create fictions; but venturing into God requires that we become completely naked to ourselves, see ourselves as He sees us, wounded by sin, imperfect and in need of healing grace. Nothing is hidden from Him, as He is the very environment in which we exist. St. Paul said, "In Him we live and move and have our being." God, being eternal, is also beyond time and knows our every thought word and deed before we express them.

Since engaging in pretense is impossible before God, our major goal in life should be to become living examples of His love and truth. Living in this way frees us from "watching" for the Lord's coming. God excludes no one from His kingdom; it is we who exclude ourselves through hypocrisy and pretense, the refusal to grow in Him to our full humanity.

O Blessed Redeemer, You showed us that obedience is not a sign of weakness but of true strength; for Your assent to the Father's love and truth won us freedom from sin and death. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2005 The Way, The Truth, The Life