1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:7–13
Psalm: Psalm 90
Gospel: Matthew 24:42–51 “Stay Awake”
“So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
1 Thessalonians 3:13
Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The readings remind us of a central truth: we are called to live worthy and blameless lives before God. Saint Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to remain steadfast in faith, to abound in love, and to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus warns that those who live as hypocrites will face disaster, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
The message is clear. Each of us is invited to examine our lives. Are we living according to the Gospel or according to the world? To live a worthy life means to live a life of love, peace, forgiveness, mercy, kindness, and reconciliation. It means striving daily to avoid sin and to be ready for the moment when Christ returns or when death calls us home. The call is urgent, for only a life rooted in readiness can be considered truly worthy.
The sacramental life is an important part of this journey. Confession and the Eucharist strengthen us and give us the grace to persevere. Without these, we risk falling into the trap of hypocrisy, pretending to be righteous while living in contradiction to the Gospel. Jesus constantly condemned the hypocrites, not because they sinned, but because they refused to repent and hid behind a mask. The fate of such a life is disaster. But if we choose to live worthily in Christ, the reward is heaven, the joy of eternal life in the presence of God and the saints.
The life of Saint Augustine is a powerful testimony to this truth. Before his conversion, he lived an unworthy life. He fathered a child out of wedlock and pursued worldly pleasures. Yet through the ceaseless prayers of his mother, Saint Monica, and the grace of God, Augustine embraced the faith. He was baptized by Saint Ambrose, returned to Africa, and lived as a holy bishop for more than three decades. His writings and sermons shaped the Church profoundly, and he became one of the greatest theologians in history.
His story teaches us that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. There is no sin so great that God’s grace cannot forgive. Augustine himself once lived in darkness, yet today we venerate him as a saint. If God could transform his life so completely, He can do the same for us. A saint is nothing more than a sinner who keeps trying, who never gives up, and who cooperates with grace.
Dear pals, the invitation stands before us. Which life will we choose? To live as hypocrites and face disaster, or to live as Christians worthy of heaven? Heaven is real, hell is real, and the choice is ours every day. When we fall, we can begin again by returning to confession and trusting in God’s mercy. Let us struggle daily to live as people who are blameless before Christ, never discouraged, always hopeful.
Through the intercession of Saint Augustine, may we also cooperate with the grace of God so that at our death we may be found worthy of eternal life. Happy feast day of Saint Augustine.
May God bless you.
Pal Ronnie
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