Be ready when the Lord comes

Radical detachment from the goods of this world has a purpose: to prepare us for the Master’s return.

WORD OF FAITH: A breakdown of each week's upcoming Sunday readings to better understand the Word of God at Mass.

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)  

Ready and waiting, that is the required posture for all the faithful. What are we waiting for? We are waiting for the Lord’s return in the fullness of His glory. While we wait, what should we be doing?

Jesus tells us, “Sell your belongings and give alms.” (Lk. 12:32) This directive from the Lord continues the theme from last week’s Gospel, Luke 12:13-21, to seek those things that are eternal rather than earthly. Jesus is asking us to radically detach from possessions and the goods of this world. Is it possible for people who must live in this world to not be of the world?

The radical detachment from the goods of this world has a purpose: to prepare us for the Master’s return. “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.” (Lk. 12:35) These two directives, radical detachment and readiness, require faith in order to respond. Jesus says, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” (Lk. 12:37) The Evangelist, Luke, is reminding the faithful of the importance of following Jesus’ instructions as they await His second coming. Luke cautions the Christian faithful not to be deceived in thinking that Jesus will be delayed in his return, but to be ready — for at an hour we do not know — He will return.

Peter’s response to the challenges of the “Parable of the Faithful Servants” illustrates the difficulty of the directive even for the Apostles: “Then Peter said, Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” Jesus’ response to Peter’s question reminds us that every Christian is called to be a faithful servant. It is not meant for some and not for others. Jesus said, “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 the servant whom the master on arrival is doing so.” Belief in Jesus requires adherence as faithful servants to all that Jesus teaches.

Readiness requires faith, and faith is the acknowledgement of the reality of the existence of God, as the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) The gift of faith is all the evidence that is needed that what has been promised by the Lord will be fulfilled. Faith lived out and shared with others then becomes a tangible sign of what has been hoped for has been fulfilled. The community gathered together in faith manifests the substance of the reality spoken of in this passage from the Hebrews (11:1-2, 8-19). The fact that the community of faith exists is evidence of the things that are hoped for; thus, the Lord’s promise is fulfilled.

The First Reading from Wisdom 18:6-9 speaks of how God readied the Hebrew people on the night of the Passover. It is meant to be a faithful and inspirational retelling of the Exodus of the people of Israel out of Egypt. They were inspired by Moses and filled with hope in God’s promise of freedom from slavery and death. This is meant to also inspire the Christian faithful and encourage us to be ready at a moment’s notice. Psalm 33 also speaks of the importance of being ready for the coming of the Lord. In readying themselves, the people of Israel were to sing hymns of praise such as Psalm 33:20. They will join in chanting the glories of God as they await the coming of the Lord. “Our soul waits for the Lord who is our help and our shield. May your kindness be upon us who have put our hope in you.”