He knocks. Be vigilant Wis 18:6-9; Heb 11:1-2,8-19; Lk 12:32-48 (19/ C)

 

He knocks. Be vigilant

Wis 18:6-9; Heb 11:1-2,8-19; Lk 12:32-48 (19/ C)

 “..Since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image” (St Anastasius of Sinai)

 

The evangelist Luke presents us with Jesus’ parable of the steward about watchfulness. A steward in the time of Jesus was responsible for managing the household and its staff in the master's absence. This man’s mistake was that he did what he liked when the master was away. Jesus warns us to be ready for the coming judgment and be watchful, even if it comes at midnight, and never turn back like Abraham, the father of faith. Faith and patience are regarded as spiritual virtues. St Paul defines faith, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).

There were two young girls filled with faith and love for Jesus, even at the cost of their lives. It was in Carthage (Tunisia), North Africa, part of the Roman Empire in 202 A.D. It was the time of preparation for celebrating the emperor Septimus Servanus’ birthday. Free games were organized with gladiators fighting to the death. Between sections of these fights, there would be intervals when people who were condemned were given as food for the cruel animals. These two young girls became part of it. They were a 22-year-old noblewoman and her servant girl. Both were pregnant. They heard a missionary speak about Jesus Christ, the eternal kingdom, and the Love of God.  They decided to become Christians. The greater their joy of becoming Christians, the worse it became in the furious eyes of the emperor. The noble woman was Perpetua (Felix), and Felicity (the Happy One) was her servant. And they wanted others to realize the Love of God in Jesus Christ. They were both determined to give witness to Christ. There was no way that they would keep their joy to themselves. Both contended that to deny Christ would be denying themselves. Both said, “I am a Christian.”  They were arrested and thrown into a horrible prison. The games came up. Both Perpetua and Felicity, and three others, were thrown to the wild beasts in the arena. The Romans would not kill a pregnant girl because that would be killing a baby.  But the soldiers dressed the girls up as pagan goddesses, which the spectators did not like. So, they clothed them in heavy cloths to hide their pregnancies and marched them into the stadium.  A herd of wild heifers was released into the arena, stampeding the girls, hiding them with heavy raising dust. Perpetua said, “But we have to give testimony to Christ for all to see.”  The soldiers dragged them to the center of the arena because they wanted to dissuade people from becoming Christians, not have people marvel at these girls’ courage. Soldiers came out and killed them both. What does their story teach us today? “Come out, come out to the center of the arena and give testimony” is an inner yearning of our souls to give witness to Christ.  The center of the arena is where those who reject Jesus call us to suffer for him. The proper response to our faith is to lead others to Christ.  We have chosen Christ. There is no turning back.

The Gospel begins with the tender words of Jesus, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock” (Lk 12:32).  Fear is the feeling of anxiety caused by the presence of danger, which can be physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, or moral. We fear all kinds of things. We fear losing our health, losing our jobs, losing a family member, or losing good friends. We fear living alone, dying alone, fear rejection, failure, and losing money. We may fear intimacy or be abandoned. Fear hinders our spiritual and psychological growth. Our fears hold us in bondage and prevent us from experiencing the freedom of God. Confronting our fears daily offers us opportunities to grow spiritually and psychologically. It is a call to face them with a challenge as we prepare ourselves to meet our Savior.  St Augustine says, “Each one of us must prepare for the end. The last day will not bring any harm to anyone who lives each day as if it were the last. Live in such a way that you can die peacefully, because he who dies each day does not die forever”.

The parable reminds us that we should be found doing our jobs when our Savior arrives. If Jesus knocks at our door today, would we be ready and eager to receive him? He wants us to be prepared for his arrival at any moment of the day. He knocks on the door of everyone’s heart, saying, “Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will feast together” (Rev 3:20). He prepares us to receive him.

“..in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house” (St Anastasius of Sinai)