Faithful & Prepared ~ Msgr. Daniel Hoye

Readings for today's Homily

Semper Fi is the well-known motto for the Marines.  “Fi” means short for Fidelis—“always faithful.”  Not as well known as the motto for the Coast Guard, which also uses Latin.  It’s “Semper Paratus,” which means, “always prepared.”

It would behoove us in these last days of the liturgical year to adopt Semper Paratus, that we are always prepared.  The readings in these last days of the year, as far as the liturgy is concerned, point to the end of time—to the final judgment.  The First Reading today is the reaper that comes, which is kind of adopted by culture.  We talk about the grim reaper coming with his sickle.  But in the reading, there are two reapers—one for the good and one for the bad.

Maybe if we put both motto's together; if we are always faithful, then we are always prepared.