1 Cor 1:1-9 / Matthew 24:42-51
When we have to keep watch and stay awake especially when we are guarding something precious, it is a heavy responsibility.
In the military, if a soldier is caught sleeping while on guard duty, he will be severely punished.
But it is not that we have to stay awake and keep watch all the time. If we were to do that, fatigue will set in and we will lose attention.
But when it is our turn to keep watch and stay awake, then we have to be on alert and be responsible for the duration of our watch.
So when Jesus tells us to stay awake and be on alert, He is asking us to be on the watch as to when He is telling us something and wants us to get it done.
We see that watchfulness and alertness in the 1st reading as St. Paul says that he never stopped thanking God for all the graces that the Corinthians received through Jesus Christ.
He kept thanking God for enriching the Corinthians with teachers and preachers and the strong witnessing to Christ by the Corinthians.
He further encourages them that God will keep them steady and without blame until the coming of Jesus Christ.
Learning from St. Paul, we know that by giving thanks constantly, we are already on the watch and alert for the coming of Jesus.
Let us be faithful and keep giving thanks and we will be rewarded by Jesus.