Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. (Mt.42-44)

Today's Gospel reflection is a good reminder that the time will come when our Lord returns. No one knows the time, and today's scripture begs us to examine our relationship with God. Living a God-centered life means that God is thought of and talked about when going to bed and when rising when walking in the street and at home.1 In other words, all day long, every day of one's life. Are we sharing the faith with our friends and our co-workers? Does our home life reflect a deep relationship with God? I am reminded of a recent Twitter post asking, "if someone came into your home would they know you are Catholic?" This was a fun post, but I would also say a very serious one. Look around at how you're living and reflect on today's scripture because our worldly affairs and home life is a sure way to see what we are genuinely focused on.

Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so." (Mt. 24:45-46) 

Staying awake or being prepared for the Lord means keeping God in every area of our life. For those with families, this means teaching our children how to pray and live holy lives, so they are prepared when the moment comes. Are we watching and listening to things that lift our connection to God, or are we being swallowed up by mindless or distasteful entertainment? The Lord wants us to be with Him, but this does not always mean we live an easy, comfortable life. Today's reading reminds us that we must stay awake and not become complacent. The book of Revelations is a good reminder as well, and writes, "I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:15-16)

Today, reflect and ask yourself if your life is dedicated to God. Are you preparing yourself and those around you for His return? Has the Sacrament of confession gotten far away from you? Is there more you can do or fit into your weekly schedule that could make your relationship stronger with God? Consider preparing for the Lord in prayer or on your knees in front of the Blessed Sacrament. "So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." (Mt.24:44)

Reference:

1 Corona, Laurel. Judaism. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 2003.