“Be Prepared”
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
“Be Prepared!” That is what Jesus is telling us in this parable. I find myself always on the alert. It is when I leave town on a break that I simply let go and completely relax. For there is always someone in need. Today has been filled with need. My young friend for whom I am payee called scare he will not be able to find a place. A priest of mine called as well, upset scared, afraid she will lose everything. Tonight doing outreach there were several who were anxious and wanted to talk. I find myself always on the alert. It is natural for me. A group from the MCC Church came to the meal and were asking me how I could always let people into my life, never really have any privacy. In thinking about it, that is a reality–I have very little privacy, I am always being interrupted by someone with a problem or a need, and it is not difficult for me to live my life in that way. I have lived it that way all of my adult life, accept for a couple of years. For me I am answering the Gospel–to be prepared for Jesus to come into my life, and he does, over and over again. I have people who do not like me, but I hold no grudges, I have no enemies on my side, because like Vincent De Paul said on his death bed–there is no place for enemies in God’s eyes. And ultimately Jesus will meet me in death–and so I am prepared for his coming in all times. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!
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