Saturday, November 29 – “Stay Awake, for You Do Not Know the Day”

Scripture

“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was

coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Matthew 24:37–44

Reflection

The Advent season begins not with lights or carols, but with a call to vigilance. The Church’s liturgy places us immediately before the mystery of the Lord’s coming, not only

in Bethlehem, but at the end of time and into the heart of each believer. Christ speaks to us as He once spoke to His disciples: “Stay awake.” These words are both command and

invitation. They remind us that the Christian life is not passive waiting but active readiness, a vigilance of love. As members of the EOHSJ, this call resounds with particular resonance. To keep watch is to guard the Holy Places with prayer, faith, and fidelity; to remain alert is to tend the living stones of the Church in the Holy Land. Advent summons us to interior watchfulness, to let our hearts be a sanctuary ready for the coming of Christ the King. The “thief in the night” is not meant to instill fear but to awaken desire, that holy urgency to live each day as if it were the moment of His return. As the early dawn light grows stronger with each passing day of Advent, may our hearts too grow in readiness and peace, watchful for the signs of His presence already near.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, awaken my heart from the slumber of complacency. Grant me the grace to watch in hope, to serve in love, and to await You with joyful longing. May my life bear

witness to Your coming kingdom of peace. Amen.

Meditation Question

Where in my life am I called to greater spiritual vigilance, to stay awake to Christ’s presence in prayer, in others, and in the Holy Land today?