"NOTHING IS FAR FROM GOD."

"Nothing is far from God" is a famous quote by Saint Monica,

the 4th-century mother of Saint Augustine.

Persistent Prayer: Saint Monica prayed for her

pagan husband and her wayward son, Augustine.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

From Paul,

Ccalled to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Sosthenes,

our brother, to God's Church which is in Corinth; to you, whom God has sanctified in Christ Jesus,

and called, to be holy, together, with those, who, everywhere,

call upon the name of our Lord Christ Jesus, their Lord and ours.

Receive grace, and peace from God, our Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord.

 

I give thanks, constantly, to my God, for you, and for the grace | of God given to you,

in Christ Jesus. For you have been fully enriched, in him, with words, as well as with knowledge,

even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you.

You do not lack any spiritual gift and only await the glorious coming of Christ Jesus,

our Lord. He will keep you steadfast to the end, and you will be without reproach,

on the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus. The faithful God will not fail you,

after calling you to this fellowship with his Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord.

 

Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

 I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

Matthew 24:42-51

Stay awake then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Obviously, if the owner of the house knew at what time the thief was coming,

he would certainly stay up and not allow his house to be broken into.

So be alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour you least expect.

Imagine a faithful and prudent servant, whom his master has put in charge of

his household, to give them food at the proper time. Fortunate, indeed,

 

is that servant, whom his master will find at work when he comes.

Truly I say to you, his lord will entrust him with everything he has.

Not so with the bad servant, who thinks, 'My master is delayed.

And he begins to ill-treat his fellow servants, while eating and drinking with drunkards.

But his master will come on the day he does not know, and at the hour he least expects.

He will punish that servant severely; and place him with the hypocrites.

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Faithful service leads to blessings.

Matthew reminds us to remain vigilant and prepared for the Lord's return.

Jesus compares His coming to that of a thief in the night – unexpected and sudden.

This imagery urges us to live with a sense of readiness,

faithfully fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to us.

Like servants waiting for their master, we are called to use our time,

talents, and lives to glorify God and serve others.

 

Faithful service leads to blessings, as Jesus promises rewards for those

who are diligent and trustworthy at His return. However,

He also warns of the consequences of unfaithful service-neglecting our spiritual

duties and becoming complacent. The unfaithful servant faces separation

from the master's joy, which serves as a sobering

reminder of the importance of living purposefully.

 

This passage encourages us to reflect on how we live each day.

Are we steadfast in our commitment to Christ, prepared to meet Him at any moment?

Let us renew our devotion, embracing lives characterized by faithfulness,

vigilance, and joyful anticipation of the Lord's return.