Sacred Scripture
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.” (Luke 12:35-38)
Reflection
Jesus’ master-servant parables seem to extol the virtue of preparedness. But I think there is something deeper and equally as important behind it.
There is a lesson here of fidelity or faithfulness which allows us to persevere in living out an unswerving commitment. The Lord is committed to us in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity. Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that He expects of us.
Why ten is fidelity, commitment, and faithfulness so difficult today? Perhaps because modern society extols freedom over fidelity and doesn’t want to be bound to an unknown or uncertain future. It’s also inconvenient and a burden to the pursuit of one’s own interests. But followers of Christ are expected to rise above self-interest. We are expected to live up to our covenant with Him. We live up to our covenant by living out that faith. At times, that seems difficult for us.
Then perhaps we need to think of it this way. Jesus is as a house, and we are inside, and from the windows of this house we look at the world. If we are to continue to dwell in that house, we do not close in on ourselves, we do not long with melancholy for a supposedly golden past. Instead we look ever forward to a future that is not only our handiwork, but one which we are asked to helpco-create with our God. All that seems dark will one day become light. That is why we can’t abandon ourselves to the events of the world with pessimism, as if history were a runaway train. Resignation is not a Christian virtue !
And just as it is not Christian to shrug one’s shoulders or bow one’s head before a seemingly inescapable destiny, we are reminded to be his hands and feet in bringing hope to the world. One who brings hope to the world is never a submissive person. A submissive person is not a peace-builder but is an idler, one who wants to be comfortable. Meanwhile a Christian is a peacemaker when he/she takes risks, when he/she has the courage to take risks in order to bring good, the good which Jesus has given us, given us as a treasure. It’s not a one-and-done occurrence nor reserved just for the Last Day.
Jesus is knocking on your heart. He is continually coming to you seeking to come in and recline with you so as to converse, strengthen, heal and help. Reflect, today, upon how ready you are to open immediately every part of your life to the grace and will of God. Let Him in with great joy and enthusiasm and let His plan continue to unfold in your life.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, you are faithful even when I fail. Help me to remain ever faithful to you and to not shrink back when I encounter difficulties. May always live in your presence and be ready to meet you when you call me on the day of judgment.”
Daily Note
What a great arrangement we have here! We participate in kingdom work and Christ promises to serve us. You may wonder whether you have the time, strength, or ability to serve Christ, but you must remember this: You do not serve Christ, you do not do kingdom work, by your own strength. You do kingdom work with the strength Christ provides (1Pet. 4:11). Remember the words of our Lord in Mark 10:45: “the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many “.
