The gospel states, "Do not let God come suddenly and catch you asleep. Stay awake!!"

Why refrain from spiritual slumber? In Isaiah we read, "No ear has ever heard, no eye has seen any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for you. Would that you would meet us doing right, mindful of your ways.

It is the eyes of faith that enables us to see the deeds God works within us which fill our hearts with unspeakable gratitude.

Faithful, grateful hearts know that our joy, fulfillment, meaning and happiness is found only in God and can thus exclaim with Isaiah, "You God are our Creator. We are the clay and you the potter. We are all the works of your hands."

Faithful, grateful hearts allow Jesus into their hearts and mind to recreate and refashion their thoughts, words, attitudes and deeds.

Faithful, grateful hearts listen to God in prayer, imitate the person of Jesus in their lives like Francis and Clare, and offer up their infirmities and limitations to the Paschal Mystery and rejoice that they have the opportunity to suffer with Christ.

Faithful, grateful hearts speak kindly to and of one another, recognizing the other as "alter Christus" and willingly engage in acts of. kindness, service, even tough love.

Faithful, grateful hearts are gracious, prayerful, thoughtful and brotherly. They are a joy to be with, for they "do what is right, mindful of God's ways."

With the love of God poured out into their hearts by the Holy Spirit, all brothers should promote continually a family spirit, and friendly relationships especially among themselves. They should be courteous and cheerful and develop all the other virtues. Thus they continually encourage one another to be men of hope, peace, and happiness. United in true happiness, they should reach a maturity that is fully human, Christian and religious.

Jesus said, "Be constantly on the watch. Stay awake. You do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own task, and he orders the man at the gate to watch with a sharp eye. You do not know when the Master is coming. Do not let him come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say is be on guard!"

Lord God, whose we are and whom we serve, help us to glorify you this day, in all the thoughts of our hearts, in all the words of our lips, and in all the works of our hands, as becomes those who are your servants, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.