Gospel

From the Gospel according to Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples:”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.
“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.Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’and begins to beat his fellow servants,and eat and drink with drunkards,the servant’s master will come on an unexpected dayand at an unknown hour and will punish him severelyand assign him a place with the hypocrites,where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

The Gospel of the Lord

Always on Guard

When we read this Gospel, it’s easy to think only about death—the day the Lord will call us into His presence—and the need to always be prepared, since as He tells us, we do not know the day or the hour. And that’s true: we cannot simply rely on ourselves or leave everything to the last moment. We are in a constant battle against sin. It doesn’t rest, and neither can we. But the reward is always greater: God’s grace. And the final prize? Heaven and eternity with Him.

That is why we must always stay a step ahead and remain prepared—especially in the situations that are uncomfortable, inconvenient, or not what we would have chosen. Our response must always be one of renunciation and unconditional self-giving.

Married couples have a special grace through the sacrament of Matrimony, a gift we must not waste. It helps us to remain vigilant, to welcome our spouse in their weakness caused by sin—without forgetting that this weakness is also ours. We are called to reach heaven together, and every time we overcome a temptation, it is another step closer to our goal. And to reach that eternal reward, we have a wonderful solution: LOVE without limits. As St. Augustine said, “The measure of love is to love without measure.”

Applied to Married Life:

Marie: You’re home already, John! I didn’t expect you so soon. Didn’t you have a lot going on at the office?

John: Yes, it’s been exhausting these last few days, but I realized I need to set limits with work—otherwise it consumes me, and I lose sight of what matters most. Besides, it’s my feast day today, and we should celebrate it properly.

Marie: I’m so glad to see the way you’re handling this now, it’s such a gift having you home more.

John: Before, I thought work was everything—that it was the key to securing a relaxed life later on. But now I know there’s nothing more restful than simply being with you. Thank God, there’s plenty of work for the future, but I don’t want it to steal my present.

Marie: Do you realize how much our life has changed these past years? Before, we were focused on worldly things—on what we wanted or didn’t want, on money—and we poured extra hours into work just to earn more and “secure” a comfortable life. Now all of that has taken second place. We’ve discovered what God had prepared for us, and we’ve put Him first.

John: Yes, Marie, that’s exactly it. I’m so grateful we’ve finally seen it. God’s plan for marriage has always been there, but we didn’t want to recognize it. By discovering its greatness, we’ve grown together, and our relationship has flourished in ways I never imagined. We’ve chosen to put God—and each other—ahead of everything else, and our life has been transformed. I thank the Lord constantly for that.

Marie: Before, we acted based only on our own needs. But now, we’re ready for whatever comes—always on guard to do God’s will. It’s not always easy, but we don’t tire of trying.

John: It’s amazing to see how the Lord is changing us. How about we pray  together, and then I’ll cook you a dinner you won’t forget?

Marie: Perfect! You’re wonderful, and I thank God for you every single moment. Let’s do it—and celebrate your feast day as it deserves.

Mother,

Guided by your example and sheltered beneath your mantle, help us to remain always alert and prepared to welcome the Lord. Blessed be the Lord, who is always waiting for us.