Reading 1
1 Cor 1:1-9
Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the Church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel
Mt 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 day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
Meditation: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
“You are not lacking in any spiritual gift.” (1 Corinthians 1:7)
It’s tempting to feel beaten down during the day, buried under hundreds of details that cry for our attention, harried by looming deadlines, mystified by our children’s (or our own) moods, fears, or choices. But the truth is, we are heirs of an amazing life! We don’t have to feel burdened or confused. No, like the Christians in Corinth, we too can be “enriched in every way” (1 Corinthians 1:5).
God wants us to become confident in the vast resources we have inherited in Christ! Jesus is more than eager to provide us with every spiritual gift we need. Imagine: wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, faith, and fortitude are ours in abundance. And on top of that, mercy, forgiveness, comfort, compassion, and love are constantly flowing from the throne of our heavenly Father. And they’re all offered to help “enrich” our lives and the lives of everyone around us.
So how do we receive these gifts? Well, when we pray, we need to be specific—and honest—about the needs we have. Being clear with ourselves and with God about what we’re seeking and then taking time to rest quietly in God’s presence, will help open our eyes to the miracles God is pouring into us. At times, his answer will come in some unfolding event in our lives; or perhaps it will be a still, small voice in the quiet of our hearts or minds. Sometimes the understanding or fortitude or love we need will simply materialize at the right time.
However these gifts come, one thing is sure: God, who calls us to be holy, is faithful. Life doesn’t have to be too hard. Peace and hope are not beyond our grasp. They are not meant only for a chosen few. They are for every one of us, regardless of our age, natural talents, or station in life. It’s not a matter of our own efforts. Jesus is always with us to help us, to keep us constant in this life, and to make us ready to greet him when he comes again.
“Jesus, I want to receive all the gifts you have for me today. I trust in your goodness. Come, Lord, and help me to follow confidently in the way you lead me.”
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