August 7, 2022: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their masters’ 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 the servants 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.

“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.”

During this month, we will be with Jesus as he teaches his disciples and those around him. He often does this by using examples of what’s happening in people’s lives. He is with the people in their struggles. In today’s Gospel, he speaks of fear, preparedness, the duties of a servant, etc. This is the sentence that struck me: “Be like servants ready to open immediately when the master comes and knocks.”

How often does our Beloved knock at the door of our hearts and we are too busy to answer? Christ knocks at our door in many ways – in the child who needs a hug, in the friend who needs someone to listen, in the cause that needs our talent or treasure. This Gospel reminds us of our need for awareness – true awareness that allows us to respond as the faithful servant did – immediately and with compassion. This awareness allows us to meet our fears, improve our preparedness and fulfill the duties that are ours as we are a part of the body of Christ.

Action

Pray for that awareness – ask the Holy One to help us hear and answer the whispers of the Spirit throughout each day.