But knowing that the Lord watches over us with love does not entitle us to slumber, to let ourselves succumb to laziness! On the contrary, we must be alert, vigilant. Indeed, to love means being attentive to the other, being aware of his or her needs, being available to listen and welcome, being ready. The second word: Be ready. This is the second invitation today. This is Christian wisdom. Jesus repeats this invitation several times, and today he does so through three short parables, centred on the master of a house who, in the first, returns unexpectedly from a wedding banquet; in the second, does not want to be surprised by thieves; and in the third, returns from a long journey. The message in all of them is this: that it is necessary to be awake, not to fall asleep, that is, not to be distracted, not to give in to inner idleness, because the Lord comes even in situations in which we do not expect him. To be attentive to the Lord, not to fall asleep. We need to be alert. And at the end of our life, he will call us to account for the goods he has entrusted to us. Therefore, being vigilant also means being responsible, that is, safeguarding and administering those goods faithfully. We have received so much: life, faith, family, relationships, work, but also the places where we live, our city, creation. We have received so many things. Let us try to ask ourselves: Do we take care of this inheritance the Lord has left us? Do we safeguard its beauty or do we use things only for ourselves and for our immediate convenience? We have to think a little about this: are we guardians of all that has been given to us? Brothers and sisters, let us walk without fear, in the certainty that the Lord accompanies us always. And let us stay awake lest we be asleep when the Lord passes by. Saint Augustine used to say, “I am afraid that the Lord will pass by and I will not notice”. To be asleep, and not to notice that the Lord passes by. Be alert! May the Virgin Mary help us, who welcomed the Lord’s visit and readily and generously said, “Here I am”. Picture of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV from Divine Mercy Plus: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZrKaFN8zW/ Quote from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV from Regina Caeli May 11, 2025 https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2025/documents/20250511-regina-caeli.html Angelus Address given by His Holiness Pope Francis on August 7, 2022 https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2022/documents/20220807-angelus.html Picture of Pope Francis from The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy on thedivinemercy.org::
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