19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time [C] – August 11, 2019 – Luke 12:32-48

In ancient Israel, the masters of the house were often leaving their homes for business trips or attending social gatherings like weddings. They would entrust their houses and their possessions to chief servants. And this was the world without a cellular phone, internet, and GPS. Thus, the servants have no idea of the ETA (estimated time of arrival) of their masters. It could be 8 PM, midnight or even early in the morning. The best attitude of a servant in this scenario is to be always vigilant and prepared for the arrival of his master.

However, being prepared is not understood as being idle or passivity, like someone who does nothing but waits near the door, and opens the door when the master knocks. Jesus says, “Gird your loins and light your lamps… (Lk. 12:35)” In ancient Israel, people were wearing robe or tunic. It is a long dress that covers the entire body, from the neck down to the leg. When people are working, they gird their loins with a robe or belt, to make sure that their tunic will not get in the way. In short, the servants are doing their jobs, making sure that the house is in order, and ready to receive any order just in case their masters arrive. This is a kind of readiness and preparedness that Jesus asks of His disciples.

This kind of preparedness naturally comes the humble recognition of who we are. If the servant accepts that he is a servant and aware that the house belongs to his master, he will not act as if he is the owner of the house and neglect his jobs, but perform his tasks well despite the absence of his master. So, we need also to recognize who we are and do the works that follow from our identity well. If our pride gets in the way, and we fail to understand who we are. We start playing God, and we begin doing whatever we please, even to confidently predict the end of the world.

Based on the Scriptures, the Church always believes that Jesus will come for the second time in glory and bring the final judgment to the world. We do not know when Jesus will come as the King and those who prophesy that they understand when, turn to be a dangerous hoax. In 1997, Marshall Applewhite predicted that the earth would be destroyed by the alien spaceships, and the only way to survive was to “transfer” their souls to another planet by committing suicide. Marshall and 36 followers killed themselves, yet the earth’s destruction never happened. Marshall was playing God, and he brought calamity to himself and his followers.

Be ready for the coming of Jesus means that we realize who we are before God. If we are God’s children, we love and obey our Father, and care for the other creations because God cares for them as well. If we are God’s disciples, we faithfully follow Him and continuously learn from Him. If we are fathers, we love, protect, and provide for their family. If we are mothers, we love, care, and educate our children. And when the Lord truly comes, we may be one of those “Blessed servants who are faithful and prudent [see Lk. 12:42]”

 

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP