21st Week in Ordinary Times : Thursday, 27th August 2026

St Paul, in the first reading, reminds the Corinthians that God has already enriched them with His grace and gifts. Despite their weaknesses, God was already at work among them. The same is true for us. Even when we feel inadequate or tired, God’s grace is at work to bring us close to Him.

Today’s Gospel carries a simple but urgent message from Jesus: “Stay awake… be ready.” We are warned not to become spiritually drowsy. The danger is often not in openly rejecting God, but in slowly drifting away from Him. We become distracted by social media, being too comfortable, or just stuck in routine. We postpone prayer, neglect relationships, and gradually lose our spiritual attentiveness.

To “stay awake” means keeping our hearts open to God in everyday life. We stay awake when we make time for prayer, reflect honestly on our lives, seek forgiveness, and remain sensitive to others’ needs. We also need moments of silence and reflection, especially in a noisy and distracted world, so that we can listen more intently to God’s voice. Above all, staying awake means remembering that each day is a gift from God and an opportunity to grow in faith, hope, and love. Every ordinary action, be it our work, responsibilities, patience or kindness, can prepare us to meet the Lord at any time.

PRAYER Lord Jesus, help me to stay awake and be ready at all times.