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The Gospel according to Luke (12:35-38)
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
Reflection:
As we get closer to the end of the liturgical year, we will see more and more readings that point to the “end times”, when Jesus returns in glory to bring all of His flock with Him to heaven forever. When I think of today’s reading in particular, and how those who heard these words from Jesus would have heard them, it’s easy to see that they probably expected Jesus to return quite soon (like within their lifetimes, at the latest). Of course, they neglected to consider how “soon” could be interpreted. “Soon” for us is very different from “soon” for God, right?
These words, though, are still just as meaningful and relevant for us now as they were back then. The point is that those who are followers of Jesus should always live their lives as if the end could come at any time and at that moment, any of them could be called before the throne of God to give an accounting of their lives. I’m sure I don’t have to mention anything about how our lives nowadays are not guaranteed, and that we should cherish every moment that God gives us.
We should always do our best to not miss an opportunity to say “I love you”, or to let others in our lives know how we love and value them. If someone has hurt us and we are angry and want to hold a grudge, may we pause a beat and ask ourselves if this is really something that important, such that we should not forgive, maintain or restore the relationship, and move on together. Truly, in my deepest heart, I believe that we should always choose to forgive and to love.
Today’s optional memorial is for St John Paul II, Pope. When you think of one who epitomized what I just said, it was JP2. He forgave the man who attempted to kill him, and I believe that man was at the Mass when JP2 was canonized. I suppose his ability to love and forgive is why JP2 is a saint now, and it’s an ideal that I know I try to follow (imperfectly) even now. May each of us seek to do that in all the small and big ways that God shows us!
Action for the Day:
Take a moment now to pause and look ahead at your day, and ask God to show you how He wants you to love today. And, if it doesn’t go quite the way you want, take a moment anytime today and ask God to help you to stay on track (or get back on track, if your day really went off the rails). Know that God is walking there with you through the entire day!
The picture that accompanies today’s reflection is from JP2’s visit to the USA for World Youth Day 1993. Linda and I were there for that event, and recall well his great love, especially for the youth of the world.
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