Word of Life November 2011

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour (Mt 25: 13)

Jesus had just left the Temple. The disciples proudly pointed out the grandeur and the beauty of its buildings.

And Jesus replied: You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another.

Then he went up the Mount of Olives, sat down and, looking out over Jerusalem, began to speak about the destruction of the city and the end of the world.

How will the world end? the disciples asked him, and when will it be?

It is a question that generations of Christians after them have asked, a question that each human being asks.

The future, indeed, is a mystery and often frightening. Even today some people consult fortune tellers or look up horoscopes to know what the future holds, to tell what will happen…

Jesus answer is utterly clear: the end of time will be when he comes. He, the Lord of history, will return. He is the shining goal of our future.

And when will this meeting take place? No one knows. It could be at any moment. Our life is in his hands.

He gave it to us; he can take it back even very suddenly, with no warning. All the same, he warns us: you will be ready for this event if you stay alert.

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour

In saying this Jesus reminds us above all that he will come. Our life on this earth will end and we will begin a new life that will never end. Nowadays no one wants to speak of death…

Sometimes people go to great lengths to distract themselves from it. They immerse themselves so much in the things of every day that they forget the One who gave us life and who will ask for it back in order to lead us into the fullness of life, into communion with his Father, in heaven.

Will we be ready to meet him? Will our lamps be lit like the lamps of the wise virgins waiting for the bridegroom? In other words, will we be living in love?

Or will our lamp have gone out because, so taken up by the many things to do, by fleeting joys, by the possession of material goods, we have forgotten the one thing necessary: to love?

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour

But how can we stay awake? First of all, we know, those who love are the most alert and attentive.

This is obvious to a wife waiting for her husband late at work or coming back from a long trip; it is obvious to the mother worried about a child not yet home; it is obvious to a man in love who cant wait to see his beloved… Whoever loves knows how to watch and wait even when the loved one is delayed.

We wait for Jesus if we love him and have a burning desire to meet him.

And we wait for him by loving concretely, by serving him for example in those around us, or committing ourselves to building a more just society.

It is Jesus himself who invites us to live like this: he told the parable of the faithful servant who, while waiting for the return of the master, looked after the domestic staff and the affairs of the house; and also the parable of the servants who, bearing in mind their masters return, worked hard to make profitable the talents theyd been given.

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour

Precisely because we dont know the day or the hour of his coming, we can concentrate more easily on living one day at a time, on the troubles of the day, on the present that Providence gives us to live.

Some time ago I spontaneously said this prayer to God. Id like to share it with you now.

Jesus, make me speak always as if it were the last word I shall ever say. Make me act always as if it were the last act I shall ever do. Make me suffer always as if it were the last suffering I have to offer you. Make me pray always as if it were the last chance I have here on earth to talk with you.

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour (Mt 25:13) Word of Life, monthly publication of the Focolare Movement. Original text by: Chiara Lubich, November Graphic design by Anna Lollo in collaboration with Fr. Placido DOmina (Sicily - Italy) This commentary on the Word of Life is translated in 96 languages, and it reaches millions of people throughout the world through the press, radio, TV and internet – for more information visit This Powerpoint presentation is translated in various languages and is published on