Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
There are so many things in our life that require us to plan and to be prepared. School tests and papers, practice for the big game, college applications, and more.
Currently I am planning a party for a family member and there is so much that needs to be done before the day of the party. I need to decide where this party will take place, invitations need to be sent to all on the guest list, decorations need to be purchased and then put up, food needs to be prepared or ordered from a caterer, and the list goes on.
Think about parties you have been to or helped plan in the past, in order for the party to go well, the way we want it to, there is work that must be done. We need to plan and then we need to prepare for this party. We need to make sure that we have everything ready so that all who come have a good time and that everything goes according to that plan. In the end, it’s about preparing well, planning well and then waiting for that day to come and yes, enjoying it for ourselves as well!
In the Gospel today Jesus talks to us all about preparing and being ready. He speaks to us quite clearly about His Second Coming. Often times I think that as people of faith we don’t like to think about that, but it will happen, and He wants us to plan and be prepared. Jesus tells us that we will not know the day nor the hour, but we need to be ready.
What can we do to prepare for this day? How can we be ready? First and foremost we must have a relationship with Jesus and one of the best ways for that to happen is to pray. Pray and pray often, not just once a week. Each day we should have a plan of when we will pray, maybe it’s before our feet touch the floor in the morning or at night before we close our eyes. Or maybe it’s a specific time set aside each day when we get home from school. We need to be attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist, the Real Presence, we should make time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and we should open our Bible to hear God’s word.
All of these things can help us not only be prepared for that day when He will come again, but help us to live our best life. A life that has meaning and purpose, one that is filled with great joy and unconditional love, because we will be led to do things for others and our hearts and lives will be focused on the Lord.
We need to remember that day is a day of joy and not fear. We are reminded that we are not abandoned, even in the most difficult of times, our darkest hours, His presence is with us till the end. Why wait? The time is now, and we are being called to prepare our hearts and our lives for the Lord. We are being called to be His love to others and help them to prepare. Let us plan for this day of joy with our eyes wide open and our hearts filled with His love as we stand in His presence always!
