By Beth DeCristofaro
Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not
know on which day your Lord will come. (Matthew
24:42)
Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain
wisdom of heart. (Psalm 90:12)
Piety
Now may God himself, our Father, and our
Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for
one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in
holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his
holy ones. [Amen.] (1 Thessalonians
3:11-13)
Study
Stay Awake! How easy it is to drift off or find ourselves
mentally absent. St. Monica is revered
for her persistence in praying for the conversion of her entire family,
especially the recalcitrant and dissolute Augustine.
Today another
beautiful woman, Chaplain Mary, is being remembered for her dedicated, skilled
and faith-filled service. Rev. Mary
directed pastoral care at a large, urban hospital where she was well suited to
as skilled administrator and passionate advocate for her department but also
gently and pastorally present to fearful, hurting, confused patients and
families. Although she had health
issues, her death was unexpected. I
didn’t know Mary well enough to know if asked the week before her death about
mortality whether she would say “I still have so much to do” or “I’ve run a
good course and had a good life.” But I
do know that she was Awake. She touched
many with holiness and welcome. She
abounded in love and persistence.
Action
St. Monica lived to
see her prayers answered. Not all of us
necessarily do. Jesus asks us to stay
awake in faithful knowledge and constant hope that the Bridegroom will arrive
for us. Are our lights burning? Are we awake?
Do we feel that each day, rooted in Christ, we increase and abound in
love? Were we to meet Jesus face to face
like Mary has, what is needed in our own spiritual house to show the Master
that we have been faithful and prudent servants?
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