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make today count
“Be sure of this: if the owner of the house knew when the thief was coming he would keep a watchful eye and not allow his house to be broken into.” —Matthew 24:43
Two decades ago, my house caught on fire, and the upper floor was destroyed. The fire was apparently caused by a faulty power cord in a window fan. If I had known the future, I would have discarded the fan before it could cause a fire. As it is, neither I nor anyone can be prepared for every possible situation. We can’t worry about everything that might possibly happen. Thus, our best course as disciples of Jesus is to be “at work” (Mt 24:46), “doing only what the Lord assigned” us (1 Cor 3:5). We are to be “faithful, farsighted” servants (Mt 24:45) who lovingly do the work Jesus has placed in front of us: feeding the hungry, spreading God’s Word, living our vocations, etc.
Recently, Christian authors have found an audience eager for books that speculate on the time and method of Jesus’ Second Coming. Jesus discouraged this approach (Mt 24:42). He simply focused on everyday discipleship, encouraging His followers to live so as to please Him if He returned today (Mt 24:46-50).
It’s popular to imagine the future. It’s not so popular to do the grunt work of a faithful disciple day by day. It’s easy to be so distracted about what might someday take place that nothing is accomplished today. So take courage and get to work (Hg 2:4). “Happy that servant whom his Master discovers at work on His return!” (Mt 24:46)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I turn over the future to You. May I faithfully make the most of the present time with which You bless me (Eph 5:16).
Promise: “You must be prepared in the same way.” —Mt 24:44
Praise: In response to her concerns for the salvation of her wayward son, St. Augustine, a wise bishop advised St. Monica, “Let him be. Only pray to the Lord on his behalf. As you live, it is impossible that the son of so many tears should perish.”
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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