Stay awake!

Good News ReflectionThursday of the 21st Week in Ordinary TimeAugust 27, 2009
Today's Memorial: Saint MonicaPray for alcoholics and disappointing children.Use this Novena of Saint Monica:http://gnm.org/prayers/forparents/StMonicaLitany.htm
Today's Readings:1 Thes 3:7-13Ps 90:3-5a, 12-14, 17Matt 24:42-51http://www.usccb.org/nab/082709.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_08_27.mp3
Stay awake!
"Stay awake!" says Jesus in today's Gospel reading. Awake and alert: This has to be our mode of everyday operation, our lifestyle, if we're to be the Lord's good and faithful followers.
Zzzzzzzz.......... many Christians are sleep-walking. How does that happen? How do we zone out and fall asleep?
Being awake and alert requires paying attention to how well our behaviors match what we profess to believe. For example, in every Sunday Mass we recite that we believe in "ONE ... church", but if we're divisive in our dealings with others in the parish community, or if we're building turfdoms (my turf versus your turf) in parish ministries instead of helpful collaboration (including between priests and laity), we're not really awake to the truth that we are all united as "one".
Saint Paul prays in the first reading: "May the Lord help you to overflow with love for one another and for all." This is what keeps us awake. The moment we replace love with something else (apathy, control freakness, disrespect, prejudice, verbal or any other kind of abuse, unforgiveness, self-righteousness, etc.), we start zoning out. The alpha waves take over our spiritual brain. We dream that our way is the right way and, as in any nighttime dream, we think it's real – until we awaken.
What happens when the alarm clock rings while we're dreaming? We're startled and we don't feel happy about i. We punch the "off" button and try to go back to sleep.
What happens when we're deep asleep in the darkness of the night and someone turns on a light and says, "Wake up!" We groan and growl: "Turn off that light!" At the moment, this person is our least favorite person in the whole world.
If you're turning the light on people who don't want to wake up, you're being scolded and growled at. Continue to love them patiently. Keep the light on, and quietly, faithfully continue to invite them to wake up. Show them by your own joy how to enjoy the reality of daylight. But don't get in their face to bonk them on the head with an alarm clock, because they will bonk you back and make you dizzy with sleepiness.
As their grogginess wears off, they will either realize that you're showing them the truth and they'll embrace it, or they will roll over and bury themselves in the blankets again. Remember, you are not responsible for their sleepiness; you are only responsible for revealing the light.
Meanwhile, do whatever is necessary to keep yourself awake and alert, a faithful, far-sighted servant of the Lord. May our Lord Jesus strengthen your heart, making you blameless and holy before our God and Father!
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
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