Daily Catholic Lectio
Sat, 29 November ‘25
Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday
Daniel 7:15-17. Luke 21:34-36
Pray with Vigilance
As the liturgical year comes to a close, the Word of God places before us a final, gentle yet firm reminder: pray with vigilance. The year that passes invites us to pause, look back with gratitude, and look forward with awakened hearts.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the coming of the final day. He does not speak to frighten us, but to awaken us. He gives two warnings and one counsel—all of them pointing toward a life rooted in prayerful watchfulness.
1. “Do not let your hearts become drowsy.”
Jesus cautions us against a slow dullness of heart. What causes this spiritual drowsiness? Dissipation: those small pleasures we treat as harmless. Little indulgences that, over time, occupy the inner space meant for God. Drunkenness: those moments when our emotions overpower our reason. Whenever our feelings rule our conscience, the heart becomes heavy. The worries of life: these are like a glass we hold in our hand. For a moment, it feels light. But as time passes, it makes the arm numb. The weight does not change—only the time we cling to it. The solution is simple: put the glass down. So too with our anxieties. We must place them at the feet of the Lord.
These forces do not enter violently. They settle quietly. They block new, good thoughts from entering. They exhaust the mind, weaken the spirit, and make the heart insensitive to grace. So Jesus warns: Do not allow your heart to be slowly suffocated.
2. “Do not let that day catch you like a trap.”
A trap catches only the inattentive. A careless foot is easily ensnared. Once caught, remorse serves no purpose. Jesus is not threatening; He is teaching. Alertness can prevent avoidable harm. A vigilant heart avoids the traps set by sin, distraction, and fear. Many dangers in life can be escaped simply by paying attention—attention to God’s Word, to our conscience, and to the movements within our own soul.
3. “Be vigilant at all times and pray.”
This is the Lord’s counsel. Vigilance without prayer becomes anxiety. Prayer without vigilance becomes routine. But vigilant prayer keeps the heart awake, the mind clear, and life anchored in God. Prayer is not an escape from life’s realities; it is the posture that allows us to stand firm before the Son of Man. To pray with vigilance means: Keeping the inner lamp burning even when the night seems long. Allowing grace to govern our feelings, not the other way around.
Bringing to God every worry before it grows heavy.
Standing before God with a heart uncluttered and a mind open. Praying with vigilance protects us from traps, preserves our inner freedom, and strengthens us to face whatever may come.
A Year of Grace and Gratitude
As this liturgical year concludes, we remember God’s countless blessings—seen and unseen. He has carried us, guided us, corrected us, consoled us. Today we bring it all back to Him in thanksgiving. May the Lord grant us hearts that stay awake, lives that remain faithful, and spirits that pray with vigilance.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Madurai Archdiocese
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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