About times and dates,
sisters and brothers,
you do not need us to write to you,
for you know very well that the day of the Lord comes like as a thief in the night.
When they say ‘Peace and security’,
then destruction will come upon them suddenly
as labour pains on a pregnant woman.
and they will certainly not escape.
But you, sisters and brothers,
are not in the darkness,
that the day surprises you like a thief.
For you all are children of the light and day.
For we are not of the night and darkness.
So now let us not sleep as the others
but let us keep aware and be sober
For those who sleep,
sleep in darkness,
and those who get drunk
get drunk at night.
But who we are of the day are sober
having put on the breastplate of faith and love
and the helmet of the hope of salvation.
Because God did not appoint us for wrath
but for attaining salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ
who died for us,
so that whether we are awake or asleep
we may live together with him.
Therefore encourage one another
and build up each other
just as you are doing.
O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great