Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Jesus warned his disciples of being lax in their expectation of the coming of the Kingdom of God and the Son of Man. The evangelist Luke wrote to the early Christian community who were expecting the second coming of Jesus to arrive soon. Perhaps they were trying to predict specific dates and times of when this will happen. On the contrary, Jesus said that rather than be concerned about the precise date, his disciples should be vigilant.
What does this mean for us today? Nowadays, people are not generally talking about the second coming of Jesus. However, one day we will die. We do not know the precise date and time. Regardless, that should not be our concern. We called to “be vigilant at all times and to pray that [we] have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” This implies that we are to be prepared. How do we do that? What Jesus taught in the Gospels can give us insight. Earlier in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus cautioned becoming too caught up in the stresses of life and in becoming careless and selfish. We can gain a better understanding of what this means if we read what Jesus said before this passage. In the beginning of chapter 21, Jesus talked about the poor widow who donated two small coins in the Temple, “for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood” (Luke 21:4), and at the end of chapter 20, Jesus warned his disciples to not be like the scribes who are privileged but cruel to the poor. Therefore, being vigilant requires giving what we have to God, humility, and being concerned for the poor and marginalized. At all times, we are to follow Jesus and be like him.
I’m reminded of one of the founders of the Marianist Sisters (the religious order I belong to), Blessed Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon, who often wrote in her letters about having a “happy death.” It sounds morbid to us now, but it was a concern and a popular thought during her time in the 19th century. She referred to not only a peaceful death but a Christ-centered life. Death is “happy” when one has lived life following and listening to Christ, a journey of seeking God that transforms into a search for brothers and sisters to love and serve.*
Today’s Gospel challenges us to live a life of discipleship in Christ. How are you called to do that?
–Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI
*Source: Sr. Franca Zonta FMI, “In Light of the Beatitudes,” Circular n. 13, May 25, 2018, https://nacms.org/epubs/zonta-fmi-circular-no-13-light-beatitudes, pg. 3.