Gird Your Loins

In today’s we hear Jesus speaking to his disciples about being prepared. The preparation for the ‘master’ is at hand, and is essential to salvation. He says that we must “gird your loins and light your lamps...Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” (Lk 12:35-38). Discipleship is about being vigilant, it is about service and continual growth. When we stop wanting to grow and stop desiring to learn more, then we have died. Jesus is asking us to be vigilant because we do not know the hour or day when he shall return, and this means that we cannot simply ‘put off’ our faith life for the last second, because any second could be that last second. It is important to see our lives as a constant renewal of our faith, and that we are called to live every day in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. We are in a time of already, but not yet. We are a part of the kingdom of God, yet we are still building the kingdom of God, and in doing so we must live according to the will of God living a morally good life and striving for sainthood while at the same time understanding that God has created us to be saints in the way in which we live our lives. This idea of preparation is not meant to be a dangerous warning, but a loving reminder that every day we have an opportunity to share God’s love, and we should take every day seriously with this task.

Reflection: What am I putting off that I should be focused on right now?

Lord God, thank you for today and every day. Thank you for you love and mercy. Allow me Lord to open my heart and mind to you, that I may understand and do your will throughout this day and all the days of my life. Send forth your Spirit Lord that I may see every interaction that I have today with your people, as a way of seeing Christ in them, and assist me, oh God, in loving them to the best of my abilities. I pray, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

Resource: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102318.cfm