Be Ready

Today's Readings:
1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11
Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
Lk 4:31-37

St. Paul's letter to the Thessalonians is reminding them that at all times they should be ready for the Lord's return. As Christians we are not concerned about when he will return, rather we concern ourselves with being ready whenever that time may be. We do this by living out the Gospel in our daily life; loving God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and loving our neighbor as yourself. If we do this, the when does not matter since we will be ready and waiting when Christ does indeed come again. Today let us do just that and be watchful and ready so that we may greet Christ with our gifts of faith, hope, and love. Have a great day and God Bless.
Prayer: Lord, you tells that only the Father knows the time and hour for your return, help us to live this day in your presence so that we may be ready and waiting when you come to take us to our everlasting home in Heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint of the Day - St. Giles
Giles was born in Athens, Greece, in early times. When his parents died, he used the large fortune they left him to help the poor. For this reason and especially because he worked many miracles, Giles found himself a greatly admired young man. He did not want this praise and fame at all. So, to be able to serve God in a hidden life, he left Greece and sailed to France. There he went to live alone in a dark forest. He made his home in a rough cave behind a thick thorn bush. Giles lived there contented, safe from the danger of becoming conceited at hearing himself praised. But one day, a certain king and his men went hunting the forest. They chased the deer that often came to Giles' cave. The deer lost them by going into Giles' cave, which was hidden behind the large thorn bush. One of the men shot an arrow into the thorn bush, hoping to hit the deer. When they forced their way in, they discovered Giles sitting wounded by the arrow. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" demanded the king. St. Giles told them the story of his life. When they heard it, they asked his forgiveness. The king sent his doctors to take care of the saint's wound. Although Giles begged to be left alone, the king felt such respect for him that he came often to see him. Giles never would accept the king's gifts. Finally, however, he agreed to let the king build a large monastery there. Giles became its first abbot. This monastery became so famous that a whole town grew up there. When the saint died, his grave at the monastery became a great shrine where many people came on pilgrimage.
Reflection: "God does not measure our generosity by how much we give, but by how much we have left."-adapted from a saying of Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Saint information comes from: http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/dailysaint/september/0901.asp