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 near the end of the liturgical year, we will see more and more Gospel readings that point to Jesus’ Second Coming and emphasizing the need to always be alert, be ready, be prepared. It reminds me of the image that is attached to today’s reflection. It was taken in the courtyard of the office building where I worked at AT&T back in 2016. I recall posting it on Facebook then with the snarky comment about how I didn’t know what it meant, but it did seem urgent! (I’m laughing to myself as I write this and probably all of you are wondering what happened to my brain! Please pray for my brain to return. Thank you.)
The point about that photo and the perceived message is that something is about to happen.. NOW. How could I get ready for it? (well, in the case of this image, it was a stunt to highlight something called DIRECTV NOW, and the anticipation far outstripped the actual event). Why do I even bring all that up? Well, the message that Jesus is instructing His disciples to be prepared for is much more than just an online streaming service. It’s to be ready for the return of the King of the Universe, and to be called to be one of His faithful servants. That’s really the best calling we could ever have.
Now, on the one hand, we have no idea when Jesus will come again. We believe that He will come, and we do not know when it will take place. That’s the reason for the urgency. That’s why we are called to keep plainly in sight that ultimate goal and event in world history. But, it does not mean to live in fear. It means, instead, to see each day to live after Jesus’ own example. That’s the calling of you and me, today and every day to come.
Let us, as Paul writes, “anticipate each other” in doing good, and pray for each other, that all of us may be found worthy to enter the Kingdom with the King of Kings when He returns. Wouldn’t you agree that is the attitude we should have, and not the attitude of of the Pharisees who sought to look down on others, catching them doing wrong? Let us catch each other doing right! Let us catch each other doing good works, and let us always look for ways to do more good works, for that is how we are always ready for the coming of the Lord, knowing He will call us to His flock in heaven when He comes again.
Action for the Day:
I am hoping that all of our readers & listeners are ones who do those good works. How about you do an extra good work for someone today, especially for someone for whom perhaps you would rather not do anything good? Do that good deed with a smile and with love in your heart!
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
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