August 28, St. Augustine

I will praise your name forever, Lord.--Psalm 145:1

Mass readings: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 / Matthew 24:42-51

The Lord Is Near

Today's Gospel and today's saint remind us of two basic truths of the Christian life. First, we need to ''stay awake.'' And second, we need to do that because we don't know when the Lord will come again. St. Augustine (354-430) was converted when he realized that Jesus had been pursuing him his whole life; that the Lord is near; that the Lord is coming again.

Augustine wrote this beautiful prayer about the Lord's nearness: ''Too late have I loved You, O Beauty so ancient and so new, too late have I loved You! You were with me, but I was not with You. You cried out and pierced my deafness. You enlightened my blindness. I tasted You and I am hungry for You. You touched me, and I am afire with longing for Your embrace.''

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus. Fill me with the fire of Your love.