Always Stay Alert

𝐎𝐂𝐓. 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: 𝟐𝟗𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏: 𝐑𝐨𝐦 𝟔:𝟏𝟐-𝟏𝟖 

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟏𝟐𝟒:𝟏-𝟖 “𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝.” 

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐋𝐊 𝟏𝟐:𝟑𝟗-𝟒𝟖

𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚…” (𝒗.𝟒𝟎) 

         The simplest and most basic form of interpreting this gospel passage is to tie it in with the principle of stewardship. But it is more than just that. For hidden behind this gospel are two realities that everyone needs to understand and internalize because our failure to grasp the meaning of this passage may be too costly for us.

           In a sense, Luke’s gospel Chapter 𝟏𝟐:𝟑𝟗-𝟒𝟖 refers to the second coming of Christ, but the bigger reality is that this passage refers to the time when at some point in our lifetime we will be summoned by God. Hence, this passage is in fact a call for us to prepare to meet our Creator.

           Just like in the parable of stewardship in 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝟐𝟓:𝟏𝟒-𝟑𝟎 where two of the Master’s servants wisely invested what was entrusted to them, praise also awaits the servants in this gospel who are prepared for the coming of their Master.

           In those days, the long flowing robes worn by the people at times become a hindrance in the workplace. And when a servant prepared to work, he gathers up his robes and put it under his girdle so he could move freely. The eastern lamp, on the other hand, which is like a cotton wick floating in a bowl-like container, must be kept trimmed and the lamp replenished, or the light would go out.

           What is also equally important when reflecting on this gospel passage is the fact that no man can tell the day or the hour when we will be called to meet God. Which is why this passage should serve as an advisory for all of us to be always prepared so that we will be ready and prepared when we are summoned by God.

           When that time comes, we would like God to find us (𝟏) 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝. Our life is usually filed with many loose ends. Most of the time we procrastinate. There are matters that remain undone and there are things that are half-done. We often tend to put things off and not even attempt to try our hands in doing it.

           Great men are known for their sense of accountability and are known to assume responsibility for the task before them until such are completed or finished. In 𝐉𝐧𝟏𝟕:𝟒, Jesus himself said: “𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒆.” Thus, we all should exert all our efforts and energies to complete the task set before us before the day ends.

           We also would like God to find us (𝟐) 𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫. It would be the height of foolishness to pass from this world weighed down by bitterness against our neighbor. St. Paul has an admonition for people like that which he said to the people of Ephesus (𝑬𝒑𝒉 4:26) “𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒈𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓.”        

          When God summons us at the appointed time, we hope he finds us (𝟑) 𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. Being at peace with self makes all the difference. As we see in the second part of this gospel where Jesus drew a picture of the wise and the unwise steward.

           The wise steward accomplishes all the tasks entrusted to him by his master. But the unwise steward forgot that there is a day of reckoning or accountability. Because of our obscure view of God, we sometimes compartmentalize our lives. There is a part in which we remember God is present and there is a part in which we never think of him at all.

           The unwise steward decided he has plenty of time to perform his task before the master come and this is utter folly for there is nothing so fatal as to feel we have plenty of time.

           When my wife Malou was still here, I lived as if there was plenty of time left. Malou was diligent and it was a habit for her to put everything in order. Now that she’s gone, I am left alone to do what she was doing before such that I feel that time has become shorter as the days passed with still so much to do.

           In 𝑱𝒏 9:4, Jesus said: “𝑾𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒚; 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌.” A Scottish novelist Sir James Barrie who is best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan is known to send invitations to friends in short notice. He is known to make plans in real time as we say now.

For one of the most dangerous days in a man’s life is when he discovers the word “𝐭𝐨-𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰.” This simply means that what we can do today we should not put off to tomorrow. Luke finishes this passage with a warning that knowledge and privilege always carry a certain degree of responsibility.

Similarly, our Master may not look kindly at those who know they will be committing a sin and still go through perpetrating it. It is also considered sinful for a man who fails to do what he has a chance to do it well.

The beauty of the gospels is that these narratives are in fact instructions that Jesus is communicating to us. The words are written so simply that even a fifth grader can understand it. It is now up to us whether we will persist being unwise or are we going to take the high ground and prepare for the time when we are summoned by God. The choice is yours. (𝘌𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 – 𝘖𝘤𝘵. 22, 2025)