19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
One day in 1870, the State of Connecticut was enveloped by a mysterious darkness. The same thought came to all: the Last Day had arrived. In the House of Representatives members were heard asking for an adjournment so that they could go home and wait the Lord’s coming together with their families.
The Chairman, Colonel Davenport, made a short speech: “Either it is the day of Judgment or not. If not, there is no need for adjournment. If it were the Day of Judgment, I would rather be found doing my duty. I wish candles to be brought.”
The parable of today’s gospel focuses on the unpredictable return of Jesus and our need to be prepared for his return. He’s saying to us, “Ready or not, here I come.” Normally when we think of being ready, we usually think of being prepared for the worst that could happen: locks on the door in case of thieves, life jackets in the event of a boat accident.
Isn’t it interesting that most of us believe in preparation for many uncertainties, but not with the most important event of our lives? We carry a spare tire in our car as preparation for a flat. We have insurance in preparation for a theft, fire trucks in preparation for a fire. Airline stewards provide pre-flight instruction in preparation for turbulent weather and we seek education in preparation for a good job. Preparation in our society is a sign of wisdom. But think about this. Of all the preparations that we make for the things I just mentioned, not a single one is a certainty – yet we feel compelled to prepare ourselves for them.
The return of Jesus is a certainty. We can never know precisely when he will return or when we will die, but his return is certain. We must constantly watch, being always faithful and ready so that we may be found worthy to share in the heavenly banquet he has prepared for us.
So the question of the parable is not whether or not Christ is coming again, or when he is coming, or even how he is coming. The point is about being prepared for his coming and ready to receive him whenever he comes, now or later.
In the road of life which we follow, there are many uncertainties and distractions. We don’t know where the road will take us; we don’t know when it will end. But one thing is certain. At the end of life’s journey; our Lord will be there to meet us, to welcome us into the heavenly kingdom…IF we have prepared ourselves. Preparation cannot be a “sometime” thing, but living each moment of our life for Jesus. If we can do that, we will be prepared to greet our Master whenever He comes.
How can we be prepared in this matter? When Jesus talks about the last judgment, he makes it clear that this preparedness would be measured by our readiness to serve the people we meet. He said: “What you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do this unto me.” We have to complete the task entrusted to us every day and be at peace with and at the service of our neighbor now, to be ready for his second coming.
How can we be prepared in this matter? First, is to keep Jesus and his teaching constantly before our eyes. We recall that, in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus returned to his disciples and found them sleeping, he warned them to “watch and pray” (Mark 14:38). For it is only our prayerful remembrance of God’s presence among us and of the promise of the Kingdom that will protect us from the fatal distractions that lead us to live by the world’s standards and to be found unprepared when the Lord comes for us.
Second is, let us be faithful to the life and words of Jesus as we await His second coming. Despite criticisms, rejection, pain and suffering, let us remain faithful to the Love of the Father as Jesus did. Let us fulfill the mission entrusted to us, that is, to proclaim God’s reign to all. God loves faithfulness and rewards those who are faithful to Him.
I would like to close with some words of wisdom by Saint Mother Teresa:
“At the end of life we will not be judge by
how many diplomas we have received
how much money we have made
how many great things we have done.
We will be judge by
“I was hungry and you gave me to eat
I was naked and you clothed me
I was homeless and you took me in.”
Hungry not only for bread, but hungry for love
Naked not only for clothing, but naked of human dignity and respect
Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks
But homeless because of rejection.
This is Christ in distressing disquise.”