MATTHEW 24:42-51 FAITHFUL WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING
Year A, Thursday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time – Memorial of Saint Monica
In today's Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to “stay awake” because they do not know when the Lord will come. He speaks of the faithful servant who continues to do his work faithfully even when the master is away. The message is not simply about being ready for the end of our lives; it is about being faithful in the ordinary moments of every day. The Lord wants to find us doing what He has entrusted to us when He comes.
Saint Monica is a beautiful example of this kind of faithful perseverance. For years, she prayed for the conversion of her husband and her son Augustine, even when there seemed to be little reason for hope. She did not give up when her prayers were not immediately answered. Her faithfulness was expressed not in dramatic accomplishments, but in years of patient prayer, love, and trust. Eventually, she witnessed Augustine's conversion, but her holiness had already been formed through all those years of quietly remaining faithful.
We can become discouraged when we do not see immediate results from our efforts. We pray for someone, try to repair a relationship, serve our family, work faithfully, or do something good—and sometimes wonder whether it makes any difference. Perhaps today's Gospel invites us to ask: Am I willing to remain faithful even when I do not see the results? God does not ask us to control the outcome; He asks us to be faithful to what He has placed before us today. Like Saint Monica, may we learn to trust God's timing and continue doing what is good, even when no one notices. Faithfulness in the little things is never wasted in God's eyes.
With Love and Prayers
Your Co-Traveler
