Steadfast in Love, Watchful in Hope

1Thess 3:7-13, Psalm: 89, Mt 24:42-51

Memorial of St. Augustine

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

On this memorial of the great St. Augustine, a man who knew well the long and winding path to the Lord, the Scriptures speak to us of two essential postures of the Christian heart: steadfast love and watchful hope. In a world of constant change and distraction, God’s Word calls us to be anchored and alert, building our lives not on shifting sands, but on the eternal coming of our Lord.

St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians from a place of deep pastoral affection. He has been encouraged by their faith. His joy is not in their perfect observance, but in their steadfastness amidst persecution. His prayer for them is beautiful and twofold: “May the Lord increase you and make you overflow with love for one another and for all,” and “May He strengthen your hearts to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus.” For Paul, love and holiness are not separate; they are the very fabric of a life prepared for Christ’s return. This is not a fear-filled waiting, but a hope-filled becoming, where our hearts are gradually strengthened and expanded by love until they are conformed to His.

This hopeful preparation stands in contrast to the warning in Christ’s parable. The Lord presents two servants awaiting their master’s return. The faithful and prudent one is not necessarily performing grand miracles; he is simply doing his job—faithfully managing the household and giving the other servants their food at the proper time. His faithfulness is found in the ordinary, the daily, the mundane. The wicked servant, however, says in his heart, “My master is delayed.” This single thought is the seed of his ruin. He substitutes the master’s authority with his own, abusing his fellow servants and living for his own indulgence. His sin is not just his actions, but the attitude behind them: a practical disbelief in the master’s return.

Herein lies our challenge and our comfort. The Christian life is a daily vigil. We are called to live every moment—in our families, our work, our parish—with the conscious awareness that we will be called to account for our stewardship. Did we feed others with kindness, with patience, with the nourishment of truth and mercy? Or did we use the time and talents given to us primarily for our own comfort, even to the detriment of others?

This is where the story of St. Augustine, whose conversion was won through the tears and prayers of his mother, St. Monica, becomes our guide. For much of his life, Augustine was the “wicked servant,” using his brilliant mind for his own pleasure and pride, saying in his heart, “God is delayed.” But grace, and a mother’s persevering love, broke through. He discovered that watchfulness begins with conversion, with a turning of the heart back to the Master. His most famous confession speaks to this very vigil: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

The Lord’s coming is certain, but the hour is unknown. This is not a threat to paralyze us, but a truth to focus us. It is an invitation to live today, and every day, with purposeful love and faithful duty. As Pope Francis reminds us, “The Lord does not want us to be fearful slaves, but watchful and responsible servants.”

Let us therefore ask for the grace St. Paul prayed for: that our love may overflow and our hearts be strengthened in holiness. Let us perform our daily duties with integrity and charity, feeding those around us with the nourishment of our attention, our forgiveness, and our compassion. In this way, whenever the Master comes—whether at the end of time or the end of our days—He will find us watching, working, and loving, ready to enter into His joy. Amen.