Memorial of Saint Monica
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 Psalm 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17
Matthew 24:42-51
“Stay awake!”
There it is, in today’s Gospel, standing emphatically on its own. One of the few direct orders we get from Jesus.
“Stay awake!”
If my hour comes today, will I be ready? Will I be awake? What exactly does Jesus mean about staying awake? Does he mean to not sleep? That doesn’t sound healthy.
People are generally very conscientious of taking care of their physical belongings. We lock our homes and cars, we buy insurance on almost everything and we buy and install all types of protective and preventive devices such as fire extinguishers and burglar alarms. We teach our children from the day they are born what to fear and what will hurt them. Like the master of the house in the parable, if we knew when something bad was going to happen we would be right there to prevent it.
But people aren't the same when it comes to the non-physical things in their lives. When we forget that Jesus Christ is present within us, we tend to engage in things that are damaging to our souls and our relationship with God. We sin in a variety of ways with no regard for the consequences. We abandon the protection of our souls and become like the wicked servant in today's gospel.
That's the reason we must take care always and remain awake prepared for His return. It's also the reason we must secure our souls against the dangers of the world, we must "buy the proper insurance" and make sure our "fire extinguishers are charged and ready." We do this through daily prayer, reading the scriptures and through frequent reception of Holy Communion and the sacrament of reconciliation.
Saint Monica had the type of life one would not expect to produce a saint. She lived with an abusive husband, who did not believe in Christianity. It’s not clear what the limits of his abuse were, but suffice it to say that Saint Monica was able to speak with conviction to the other women of her day, many of whom were in the same perilous situation.
One of the primary issues for Monica was the baptism of her children, the oldest of whom was Saint Augustine (who will be memorialized tomorrow). As her husband was a non-believer, it was a constant battle for Monica to get his permission to have their children baptized (especially Augustine, who had left home and had become a heretic to the faith). Yet, after several years, all were eventually baptized Christian, even her husband! How?
She prayed. She waited. She watched for the opportunity to present itself.
She stayed awake!
We can’t dictate the hour we are called back to the Lord, but we can decide what to do with the hours we have until that appointed time. Should we spend them groggily staggering through the humdrum of our daily lives, or join Saint Monica in watching and waiting for the opportunity to do our Christian duties?
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