TUESDAY, August 25 (Louis of France)

A watched pot never boils, as my grandmother used to say. But by the same token, if you don't pay attention to what you are cooking, the pot will boil over. But there's watching and there's watching. One is anxious, impatient, prone-to-worry watching. The other is hopeful and expectant watching. When Jesus tells us to watch for the coming of God's kingdom, I believe he intends the latter.

Throughout the ages many have predicted the end of the world. They were sure of themselves, urging their followers to prepare and issuing solemn warnings of dire consequences if they did not. Jesus, on the other hand, said the kingdom of heaven was very near, that it was within everyone, waiting to be discovered and nurtured. He further demonstrated that God's kingdom was a kingdom of love--love that would settle for nothing less than the perfection of all creation.
We are to watch! We are to be ever vigilant for opportunities to bring the love of God in Christ into being in our lives and in the world in which we live.

PRAY for the Diocese of Sheffield (York, England)