First Reading - Ephesians 2:12-22
Gospel - Luke 12:35-38
Imagine that someone important is coming to visit your home. You would probably prepare the house, make everything ready, and wait for the person to arrive. You would not want to be caught completely unprepared. In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses a similar image to teach us how to live as his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps.” He invites us to remain ready, not simply for a moment, but throughout our lives.
But what does it mean to be ready for the Lord? It does not mean living in fear, constantly wondering when he will come. It means living each day with faithfulness, love, and responsibility, so that whenever he comes, he will find us living according to his Gospel.
The first reading helps us understand the foundation of this readiness. St Paul reminds the Ephesians that, through Christ, those who were once far away have been brought near by his blood. Christ has broken down the dividing wall of hostility and made peace, reconciling people with God and with one another. Through him, we are no longer strangers or outsiders; we are members of God’s household.
This is a beautiful reminder of what Christ has done for us. He has not only opened the way for us to approach God; he has also called us into a new relationship with one another. We are no longer meant to live as isolated individuals, divided by resentment, prejudice, or hostility. We are called to become one family in Christ, built together into a dwelling place for God through the Spirit.
Therefore, being ready for the Lord means allowing this gift of reconciliation to become visible in our daily lives. How can we say that we are waiting for Christ if we refuse to forgive someone? How can we claim to belong to God’s household if we deliberately create divisions or treat others as strangers? Our readiness is expressed in the way we welcome others, make peace, serve those in need, and remain faithful to our responsibilities.
Jesus adds something remarkable to his teaching. He says that the master will bless the servants whom he finds awake when he arrives. Then the master himself will gird his loins, seat them at table, and come to serve them. The master becomes the servant! This is a striking image of the Lord’s generosity. The one for whom we wait is also the one who serves us. It reminds us of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve and who gave his life for us.
Our Christian life, then, is not merely a matter of waiting for Jesus to return. It is a relationship with the Lord who is already present among us, strengthening us through his grace and inviting us to imitate his love.
Today, let us ask ourselves: If the Lord came to us today, what would he find? Would he find our hearts filled with resentment or ready to forgive? Would he find us indifferent to others or actively serving them? Would he find us distracted by passing concerns or faithful to the responsibilities entrusted to us?
May Christ, who has brought us near to God and made us members of his household, help us keep our lamps burning. May he find us ready not because we know the hour of his coming, but because we have chosen to live every day in faith, reconciliation, and love.
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