The readings for this day both highlight awareness, preparation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the fig tree metaphor, Jesus encourages his followers to be attentive to the signs of the Kingdom of God. This metaphor is not about predicting the end of time but a call to live in readiness, assurance, and reliability of his teachings.

On January 4, 1837, Saint Peter Julian Eymard wrote about ‘continuous vigilance’: “This continuous vigilance makes God’s presence effective not only through faith but also through the practice of the impulses of feelings. All these things are crowned by interior and exterior mortification, without which the whole edifice would collapse in a pitiful manner as if it were devoid of wisdom, unstable, and devoid of the custody of the senses”.

This reflection invites us to be constantly aware and attentive to God’s presence in our lives, not just through intellectual faith but also by allowing that awareness to permeate our emotions and actions (impulses and feelings). It also invites us to be prepared through interior and exterior mortification, a practice of self-denial and discipline, or the whole edifice that represents our spiritual life will collapse. Without vigilance and self-discipline, our spiritual structure would become weak and unstable, lacking wisdom and control over the senses.

A genuinely effective and resilient spiritual life requires continuous awareness of God’s presence, harmonious emotional and physical discipline practice, and wisdom to maintain balance. It’s about integrating faith into every aspect of one’s being.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come to you seeking your wisdom and strength. Help us to live in continuous vigilance, ever mindful of your presence. Grant us the grace to integrate our faith into every aspect of our being, living fully in your truth. May our lives be built on the foundation of your love and Jesus’ enduring words. Amen.