From the Gospel according to Luke 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples: “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. 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. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”
Jesus invites us to live with our waists girded. In those times, girding one’s waist meant being ready for work, service, or mission, because a loose tunic would hinder free movement. Today, that gesture challenges us: to rid ourselves of our lazyness, of any attachment that hinders our self-giving, such as the pursuit of our own pleasures, the stubborn defense of our own viewpoints, our selfish love, and so on.
Let us live in grace, imitating Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life. As Christians, we know that, in the image of Christ, we are not here just to live life, but to give it away, and in doing so, we find the joy of living for what we were created for: to love. Let us live, then, awake and watchful, ready to give of ourselves at every moment, for love of Christ and for the one He has entrusted to us; our husband or wife. Blessed will we be if, when the Lord comes to take us to our eternal home, He finds us like this: girded, vigilant, and poured out in love. Ready to love!
Clare and Matt sit in silence late at night in the living room. The children are asleep, and only the ticking of a clock can be heard.
Clare: What are you thinking about, Matt? You’ve been quiet for a while.
Matt: Today, one of my coworkers asked me a question that really got to me. He said, “If you had only one week left to live, what would you do?”
Clare: And what did you say?
Matt: At first… nothing. I just stood there thinking. Then I realized that if I only had one week, I’d want to spend it on what really matters: you, the kids, God, loving you all better. And that’s when something clicked.
Clare: What was it?
Matt: That if those are the truly important things… why do I always put them off? Do I need to be a week away from dying to start living what really matters? I realized I give too much of myself to things that won’t last… work, worries, wasting time on nonsense on my phone, even basketball, which I love of course, but in the end, none of that goes with me to eternal life. But our love, our dedication to our children, our faith… those do.
Clare: I’m so glad you realized that, my love. We have to stay so alert… Sometimes we run so fast after what fades away that we forget to care for what never dies: love, self-giving, union with God, in in summary, what leads us to eternal life.
Matt: Yes, Clare… I hope that if one day someone tells me I only have a week to live…
Clare: Oh Matt, don’t start with that…
Matt: [laughing a little] Well! Or if someone asks me that question again, I won’t feel like I have to change much maybe nothing at all. That would mean I’m already living the way I should.
Clare: Then let’s do it, Matt. Because listen… shhh (you can hear the ticking clock): time is passing… and it won’t wait. Let’s go!
Your life was one of constant readiness for God’s will. No excuses, no delays, always ready to give yourself, to love, and to serve.
I want to live like you and give glory to God! Praised be you forever!
