From our New Testament reading, from 2 Thessalonians: ‘Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come’. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

St Augustine commented: ‘Therefore, not to know the times is something different from moral decay and the love of vice. For when the apostle Paul said, “Do not be easily shaken in your mind nor be frightened, neither by word nor by epistle as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand,” he obviously did not want them to believe those who thought the coming of the Lord was already at hand. Neither, moreover, did he want them to be like the wicked servant and say, “My Lord will not be coming for a long time,” and deliver themselves over to destruction by pride and immoral behaviour. Thus, Paul’s desire that they should not listen to false rumours about the imminent approach of the last day was consistent with his wish that they should await the coming of their Lord fully prepared and ready for the journey, with lamps burning’. (St Augustine, Letters 199.1.2)

All of this points to the need to live for God in the present moment, trusting that grace comes for that and not in advance for a future event. However, we should also ‘be prepared’ so that at all times we are ready for the Lord when He comes.

May God grant us grace for this, and may He bless you this day.