Why are we afraid? We are afraid because we are not prepared or because we do not know what will happen next. If we have been blessed into friendship with God, we can remain steadfast in our faith, not fearful of anything.

To live in faith and in the grace of God, we need to prepare ourselves to remain “in love” with God. We should remain faithful to him and obedient to his commandments not only when it is easy to do so but more so when it is challenging and difficult. We need to always be in a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God in thought, word and deed.

How we choose to love God is best exemplified by following how God has chosen to love us. He gave us his only begotten Son to become man and die and be raised from the dead for us. He chose to love us even though we are all sinful people.

It is when we love without asking anything in return that we show true love. It is when we love to the point of hurt that we show true love. It is when we live our love for God and neighbor all the days of our life that we find God’s reward for us.

The Gospel reading tells us to “Stay awake, then, for you do not know on what day the Lord will come.” “Be alert.” Always and all the time.

Let us strive to be spiritually awake and alert all the time, taking advantage of God’s helps and guidance in his Church.