Readings:
1 Cor. 1:1-9  and Mt. 24:42-51
Memorial of St. Monica  

Today we celebrate the memory of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. St. Augustine in his young age was influenced by the Manichean heresy, which teaches that all flesh is evil. Consequently, he fall victim to a pleasure seeking immoral life. For which his mother Monica had to spend her silent years in fasting and tearful prayers before the crucifix, for the conversion of Augustine. The faithful prayer of a mother is not wasted. The Lord eventually answered her prayers. In 386, at the age of 31, Augustine was converted to Christianity from the pagan Machanean religion. St. Monica died peacefully in 387, a year after the conversion of her son. 

In the first reading, St. Paul as the faithful shepherd of the Church of Corinth vividly presents himself as the Apostle called by Jesus himself. Being conscious of his God’s call to be an apostle, Paul wishes the sanctifying grace of God to be upon the people of good will, who accepts and calls upon the name of Jesus as their Lord. He encourages the people of Corinth with the assurance of God’s presence in their midst and their activities. Paul strengthens their faith by promising that the faithful God whom they serve will never fail them in their needs. This is the exhortation that Paul had for the people of Corinth. Here Paul claims himself to be a full pledge Apostle like the other twelve. The aspect of him that edifies us is the total responsibility that he had assumed upon himself, to the Mission that he had vowed to the Lord. It does not matter come what may or to what situation he is placed. The exemplary life of Paul teaches us to be a responsible Stewarts for God’s kingdom. If God has entrusted to us the mission, we are sure that He has given us sufficient graces to carry it out. The Lord will not ask us, anything, which is beyond our strength. He knows us perfectly well!

Instead, the gospel invites us to be vigilant upon the evil tendencies that lingers around the human minds and desires. Jesus presents before us two types of servants: the trustworthy and an unfaithful type of servants. The first servant knows the responsibility entrusted to his care by the Master. He carries it out with an outmost love and sense of responsibility. In this context, the elements of love and responsibility go hand in hand with the indispensable element of trust, between the servant and the Master. Love was the driving force that made the first servant carry out his responsibility in the absence of his Master. Whereas, the second servant, knows his responsibility entrusted by the Master, but takes advantage of the Master’s absence and began to live a reckless life, unmindful of the Master’s love and trust. The second servant failed to carry out his assignment responsibly due to lack of mutual confidential rapport with the Master.

Likewise, our eschatological reward will depend on the degree of love we consciously put in our priestly and religious ministry. The sacrificial love we exercise in our ministry is going to have a significant effect even at the glorious coming of our Lord. We are invited to be prepared and stay vigil, so that the arrival of the Master does not take us by surprise!
(By Fr. Rang Anthony SDB)