GOSPEL: LK 21:34-36
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JESUS said to His disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
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Pope Francis points out that “Jesus, many times in his preaching, cautions us to be vigilant, to hold vigil, and keep watch.” The Pope adds that on one occasion, “Jesus advised watchfulness, ‘for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’” Indeed, vigilance should be practiced in relation to the coming of the Lord. On other occasions, Jesus makes this same recommendation emphasizing the importance of “being prepared,” for example, in the case of the ten maidens – both the prudent ones and those who were imprudent or unprepared. The former “had everything prepared, even the oil for the lamps”; the latter, however, were complaisant, ‘without a thought to being prepared.’”
As the liturgical year draws to its conclusion, Jesus appears in the Gospel to be very insistent. As expressed by Pope Francis, Jesus advises “watchfulness, prayer, and vigilance in order to avoid temptation.” Francis also refers to “the example of Jesus instructing his disciples in the garden of olives.” “They fell asleep out of fear.” But, Jesus tells them – and us – to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Mt 26:41).t
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
