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Memorial of Saint Monica

Reading 1 : 1 Corinthians 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.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Alleluia : Matthew 24:42a, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Matthew 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.”

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a timely truth:
God has given us every grace we need to live faithfully—and He calls us to stay awake, alert, and ready for His coming.
• Paul reminds believers that God strengthens, equips, and sustains them.
• The psalm celebrates God’s goodness across generations.
• Jesus warns against spiritual sleepiness and calls for faithful stewardship.
The message is clear: Grace prepares us. Faithfulness keeps us ready.

Reflection for the Day

Paul begins his letter with gratitude.
He looks at the Corinthians—not perfect, not fully mature, not without struggles—and still says:
“I give thanks… for the grace bestowed on you.”
He sees what God is doing in them: enriching their speech, deepening their knowledge, strengthening their witness, sustaining their hope.
Paul’s message is encouraging:

God equips you for the life He calls you to live.
You are not lacking in grace.**
Psalm 145 lifts this truth higher. God’s goodness is not occasional—it is constant, generational, overflowing. His works inspire praise, and His mercy sustains His people.
Then Jesus speaks with urgency.
He tells His disciples to stay awake—not in fear, but in readiness. The faithful servant is the one found doing what he was entrusted to do. The negligent servant is the one who assumes he has time, becomes careless, and forgets his mission.
Jesus’ warning is not meant to frighten; it is meant to focus.
It reminds us that:
• Faith is lived daily.
• Readiness is built through consistency.
• Stewardship is measured in the ordinary moments.
• God’s return is certain, even if the timing is unknown.
Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Recognize the grace God has already given you.
   You are equipped, strengthened, and sustained.
2. Live with spiritual alertness.
   Stay awake to God’s presence, God’s voice, and God’s call.
3. Be a faithful servant.
   Do the small things with love, consistency, and integrity.
   Let today be a day of renewed readiness and grateful awareness of God’s grace.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace You have poured into my life. Strengthen me to live faithfully, to stay awake spiritually, and to serve You with sincerity.
Keep my heart alert, my spirit steady, and my life aligned with Your will.
May I be found faithful in every moment You entrust to me.
Amen.