In today’s second reading St. Paul tells us that we must be aware of the present time. Have we ever been woken from a sound sleep? Perhaps we took a nap in the afternoon and were awakened suddenly. This is what St. Paul tells us we must do. We should wake from our sleep and realize where we are. We are to understand the present time. We need to realize that we live in a world that is hostile to the virtues of God. The values of our society are not the values of the Kingdom of God. We need to know that this world is not our home.

We also need to understand that our salvation is closer now than when we first believed. Perhaps St. Paul is asking us to realize that the second coming of Christ is closer than it ever has been or perhaps he is merely trying to say, “life is short” and we had better stop wasting our time. If we knew that we had only a week to live would we live differently for Jesus Christ?

Today’s Gospel proclamation tells the story of what happened in the time of Noah. Jesus says: “As for the exact day or hour, no one will know it, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but God alone knows the time.” None of us knows when “our time” will come. Perhaps this is a bless- ing. This reading reminds us of our responsibility: what happens to us after we die is determined by how we lead our lives each day. In many ways, we are the ones who decide what our “afterlife” will be.

Does it ever seem remarkable that God has given us his Word and entrusted the Good News to us and asked us to take it to the world – to the whole universe? If God was not Sovereign, he would be taking a great risk. But since he is Sovereign, everything must happen according to his plan and time

What is the pattern of our life? Do we share our time, talents and attention with other people? Do we share our gifts and love with our family members, the people we work with, with our neighbors or even people we do not know? If we choose to do these things, after our death we will be in God’s loving presence!

Let us thank God our Father, that in his grace he chose to reveal his plan to redeem the lost race of humanity, through the sacrifice of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Let us thank our loving God for revealing to us, his people, things that are to happen in the future, and the signs of Jesus’ return to earth at the end of the Great Tribulation, when he comes in power and great glory to rule and reign in righteousness.

Prayer: Abba Father, may we be ready for the second coming of your Son. Amen.