4th Week after Holy Cross

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Concerning times and seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. Those who sleep go to sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation. For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

Matthew 24:45-51
“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.

One time, we threw my friend a surprise party. He did not know what was going on even when hia mother had to give us rides to his house. He was taken by surprise because he was expecting something else. We should be ready for Jesus’ return because he told us in advance. He has prepared for us a great celebration and he invites us to be ready.

O God,
through the blessings of this holy day,
the Sunday of your glorious resurrection,
grant us secure and peaceful times.
May we join the heavenly hosts in praising you, O God,
in the highest heavens,
and on earth may there be peace and blessed hope for all people, now and forever. Amen.