WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OCTOBER 21, 2020

BE PREPARED

MASS READINGS:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 12:35-38

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.”

REFLECTION: "You also must be prepared..."

Lack of vigilance invites serious consequences whether it is our health, our home, our destiny or our family. If we don't prepare for the future, we run the risk of losing all. So we eat healthy, exercise, keep up with home repairs, educate our children, contribute to our 401K Plan and worship the Lord.

But, convenience, unfortunately, has at times replaced vigilance.

We click on prepared responses on Face Book, we pray with a CD, we virtually visit with a doctor instead of face to face, we pay someone to maintain our property and we give our kids love in the way of money and awesome vacations. Emails and text messages have replaced a phone call, a face to face visit, or a human hug.

We can lose our final destination if we don't treasure and use the gifts from God, guarding our hearts, minds and holding on to the truth of God's laws and teachings.

Vigilance requires of us to stay focused on the Lord Jesus, who has won the gift of salvation for us, purchased by His Blood.

Judiciously use the conveniences of life, be vigilant over our souls and the souls of others. Avoid the thief of all thieves, the devil, who works tirelessly on our will, our worldly wants and who whispers false promises. Be vigilant and be as prepared as you were on the first day of school.

God Bless You