Stay Vigilant and Pray
“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.” (Lk 21:36)
Today is the last day of the liturgical year. Tomorrow the Church begins a new year with the first Sunday of Advent. This past week, our daily readings have been about the end times, the second coming of Jesus. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus warns us to “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.” (Lk 21:36) This dire warning reminds us to be attentive at all times. We don’t know when the second coming will occur. We must be ready and not let ourselves become complacent. When we wait for something for a very long time, we can become bored, distracted and lose our sense of urgency. There are many distractions in our lives competing for our attention and causing us to lose focus on what really matters to us. So, Jesus tells us to remain vigilant and pray. Through prayer we remain close to our Lord. Through prayer our hearts acknowledge His presence in our lives (even when we don’t always feel like He is there). Through prayer, He gives us the strength to bear the bad days and joy to celebrate the good days too. As we end this liturgical year, let us look forward to the season of hope and joy with the coming of Advent. Let us remain vigilant and pray for our Lord's arrival.
Deacon Joe Trevino
St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church
Houston, TX
P.S.
I invite you to join us at St. Clare’s Eucharistic celebration, 1st Week of Advent:
1) Sat 4:30 PM (in person and livestream via facebook and our website)
2) Sunday 9:00 AM (in person and livestream via facebook and our website) and 11:00 AM
3) My deepest gratitude to you for your financial support during this difficult time, your generosity will help us pay for the repair of our 30 years old air conditioning (HVAC) system and sustain our various ministries at St. Clare. THANK YOU!
I am looking forward to welcoming y’all. Have a blessed weekend!
Air hug!
>-(^_^)-<
and bear hug!
>-ʕ •ₒ• ʔ-<
Fr. Vincent