Stay Awake and Remain Faithful to Christ
Today's readings remind us about holiness, gratitude, using the gifts God has given us, and always being ready for Christ. Following Jesus is not about pretending to be perfect. It is about sincerely trying to live according to His ways, repenting when we fall, and allowing God to change us.
Called to Be Holy
1 Corinthians 1:1–9
St Paul reminds us that we are called to be holy.
Holiness does not mean that we suddenly become perfect. Growing in holiness takes time. We will make mistakes, struggle with temptation, and sometimes fall into sin. What matters is that we continue turning back to God and allowing His grace to work in us.
God also gives each of us different spiritual gifts.
Some people are good at teaching. Some encourage others. Some serve quietly without wanting recognition. Some have the ability to listen, lead, pray with others, or help those who are struggling.
We may not immediately know what our gifts are. Through prayer, service, discernment, and the help of our Christian community, we can gradually discover them.
But our gifts are not given so that we can show off and say:
“Look at what I can do.”
They are given so that we can serve others, build up the Church, and glorify Christ.
Paul also reminds us that God is faithful. When following Christ becomes difficult, we should not simply give up. Jesus has saved us through His sacrifice, and God continues to give us the grace we need to remain faithful.
And through everything, we should remember to give thanks to God.
Praise God Every Day
Psalm 144(145):2–7
The Psalm says:
“Every day will I bless you.”
It is easy to praise God when everything is going well.
But what about when life becomes difficult?
When our prayers seem unanswered?
When we are worried, disappointed, angry, or tired?
As human beings, praising God during these moments can be difficult. But God does not stop being God because we are having a bad day.
His goodness does not disappear because we cannot understand what is happening.
God's works are greater than we can fully understand. The Psalm encourages one generation to tell another about His mighty works.
We too are called to proclaim God's greatness.
And we don't always need a microphone to do it.
Sometimes the strongest testimony is simply the way we live: showing kindness, forgiveness, patience, generosity, and love to the people around us.
Stay Awake and Be Ready
Matthew 24:42–51
Jesus gives us a very direct warning:
“Stay awake.”
We do not know when Christ will return.
Jesus uses the example of a servant whose master goes away. The faithful servant continues doing what he has been asked to do.
The wicked servant thinks:
“My master is delayed.”
He begins behaving badly because he thinks the master is not around to see him.
There is an important lesson here for us.
Our faithfulness should not depend on who is watching us.
We should not act holy in church, around priests, or around our Christian community and then deliberately live completely differently when nobody is around.
We might hide things from other people.
But we cannot hide them from God.
Jesus does not need to “find out” what we have done. He already knows our actions and He knows our hearts.
That does not mean we should become afraid and run away from Him.
It means we should repent and return to Him.
When we sin, we ask God sincerely for forgiveness. As Catholics, we also have the beautiful gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially when we have committed serious sin.
What Do These Readings Teach Us?
There is a simple connection between all three readings:
God calls us → God gives us what we need → God asks us to remain faithful.
In 1 Corinthians, God calls us to holiness and gives us spiritual gifts.
In the Psalm, we respond by praising Him and proclaiming His greatness.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to remain faithful and ready for His return.
Being ready for Jesus does not mean sitting around worrying:
“Is Jesus coming today?”
Instead, we should ask:
“If Jesus came today, would He find me sincerely trying to live faithfully?”
We will not always get everything right.
But we can keep trying.
When we fall, repent.
When God gives us a gift, use it.
When life is good, praise Him.
When life is difficult, continue trusting Him.
And when nobody is watching, remain faithful.
Because God is always faithful to us.
Reflection Questions
Am I sincerely trying to grow in holiness, or have I become comfortable with certain sins?
What gifts has God given me, and how am I using them to serve others?
Do I remember to thank God for the gifts and blessings He has given me?
Can I still praise God when life becomes difficult?
Do I behave differently when nobody from church or my community is watching?
Is there something in my life where I keep telling myself, “I will repent later”?
If Christ came today, would He find me faithfully trying to follow Him?
Final Reflection
Following Christ is not about looking holy in front of others.
It is about becoming holy from the inside.
We will stumble along the way, but God does not ask us to give up. He calls us to repent, get back up, trust His grace, and continue walking with Him.
Don't just look ready for Christ. Live ready for Christ.
Use the gifts God has given you.
Praise Him in good times and bad.
Repent when you fall.
Serve others faithfully.
And keep your eyes on Christ.
Stay awake, remain faithful, and trust in God—because He is always faithful to us.
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