“THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, YOUR SANCTIFICATION” (1 Thess 4:3)

⏰Friday of the Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time 1 (30 August 2019)

📖1 Thess 4:1-8; Ps 97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 11-12 (R.v.12a); Matt 25:1-13

Beloved in Christ, do you really have much faith in God? If you do, you have no need to be afraid of the future even as we gradually approach the scary ember months.

Be calm! These so-called ’ember’ months shall not bring you tears but joy. The blood-sucking demons that roar about in this period shall detest your life and no power shall be able to stop God’s blessing upon and your household at this period through Christ our Lord, Amen.

You only need to trust God, the chief engineer of your life and follow the sound of his voice. And you do not need to wait until later to follow his voice.

Note that while it is true that there have been people who met Christ late in life and got converted, we all might not have that privilege. Some people might misinterpret that to mean that God loves some people more but that is not true. God loves us equally and invites all of us on a daily journey to repentance. Through the scriptures, we are invited to get ready for his coming.

The parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13) gives us that warning in a very practical way. We must be vigilant at all times because we do not know the hour when it would be our turn to answer the bridegroom’s call. It could be now as you read this. How prepared are you?

St. Paul reminds us that all we need to do in order to be prepared to answer that call well is to do the will of God and abstain from immorality (cf. 1 Thess 4:1-8). This is definitely not going to be an easy option. We must be ready for the battle by being eternally vigilant.

Where will Jesus meet you when he comes? Will it be in God or in amorous things? We must not forget that our true happiness is in heaven. We can only get there if we are found ready, waiting for the bridegroom when he comes for the feast. Are we being vigilant to the things that would take us to eternal happiness?

May God keep us away from worldly distractions and lures that keep us from being entirely awake to the things of eternal life. Amen.

Have a blessed day ahead spent in the presence of God. Peace be with you.