Be on Your Guard

The lord Jesus instructs us in the gospel reading to be on guard so that the day of coming of the Son of Man will not take us by surprise like the flood took the people by surprise in the days of Noah; for they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark and they did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So we must hearken to the Lord’s instruction to be on our guards. But how are we to be on our guard? Prophet Isaiah, in the first reading, instructs us that we are to be on our guard by climbing to the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instructs us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths; and by so doing be at peace with everyone, shunning wars or keeping malice with people, and walking in the light of the Lord. St. Paul, in the second reading, also instructs us on how to be on our guard as we wait for the coming of the son of Man. He instructs us to wake up from our sleep in iniquities and sin, and to throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; refusing further to make provision for the desire of the flesh.

PRAYER:

My Lord, help me keep alert and be attentive to your words, so that the day of your coming will not be a surprise to me. Grant me the understanding that I cannot be keeping watch for the day of your coming while I am not in good terms with my neighbour or be an enemy to the word of God.

TRAIN A VIRTUE FOR CHRIST FOR THE WEEK:

(Conviviality) Be friendly to people and make them feel welcomed. They may disagree with you on something but do not keep malice because of that.

DAY’S MEDITATION POINTS:
(a) Do I get angry when people are around me?
(b) How can being with others help my spiritual growth?
(c) When do I need others the most?

MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

Fr. Mark Okojie (My Daily Life with Christ Volume 2, No. 10, 11 & 12
Write down below something from today’s homily. Reflect on it for the coming week

BIBLE PASSAGES FOR DAILY REFLECTION

SUNDAY                 Psalm 8
MONDAY               Psalm 5
TUESDAY               Psalm 62
WEDNESDAY        Psalm 47
THURSDAY           Psalm 9
FRIDAY                  Psalm 108
SATURDAY            Psalm 57