Most people have a routine to close off the day. Some watch a TV program that lulls them to sleep, some take a glass of wine to quiet their minds, some say their prayers—then they put on their sleepwear, turn off the lights and enter into the sea of the subconscious. They know that nothing significant is going to happen until the alarm clock goes off at six next morning.
A “dark night” seems to be descending on the earth. Beacons of hope that we once depended on are being turned off. “Happily ever after” times seem much further away than we once thought. How do we deal with such times? Is it time to get into a sleep routine and remain in some form of hibernation until the six o’clock alarm sounds? Is it time to numb our minds to what’s going on.
Jesus talked about such days with his disciples (Luke 12:35-38).
“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.”
Jesus always seems to be the “opposite” person. Instead of facing the night by undressing and turning off the lights, he tells us to get dressed and turn on all the lights, because something vitally important is about to happen. Wedding feasts extended into the wee hours of the morning, or until the wine supply ran out. Servants were expected to be ready for their master no matter what hour of the night he came. Woe to that sleepy servant who prepared to nap instead of prepare for the master’s return.
“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.”
Another surprise! We would expect the master, tired from his journey home, would go to bed as quickly as possible. Instead, he dressed himself in servant clothes, and pulled together a late night “snack” for his vigilant servants. He would bring the wedding “joy” back home so his servants could have a share in it.
Is the master, Jesus? Is the wedding taking place in heaven? Are we the ones who will have Jesus give us a participation in heaven if we remain vigilant?
“And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”
According to the Jewish “three watch” night, the second and third watch would extend from about ten at night to six in the morning—the time normal people were asleep!
Let’s face it. If we truly give our lives to Jesus, we are no longer “normal” people. Like the early Christians we will manifest a “countercultural” approach to life. When others face the darkness by going to sleep, we face it by getting dressed, turning on the lights, and keeping our faces to the windows knowing that Jesus will make a surprise return.
Holy Spirit show me what “girding our loins” and “lighting our lamps” means for me.
Remember how St. Paul described the Christian “wardrobe”—the clothes of virtue (Colossians 3). Remember how Jesus said we are to share in his identity of being lights to the world.
Today’s gospel is a call to action in the midst of a world heading down the steep slope of hopelessness. Yes, Jesus is the answer.
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 11:36).
