WATCHFULNESS
Romans 5:12, 15, 17-21; Psalm 40; Luke 12:35–38
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of his coming as a time of joy and celebration, not of fear and trembling. The Church affirms this joyful expectation in the second part of the Lord’s Prayer during the Eucharistic celebration when the priest says “As we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ”.
The coming of Christ is a blessed hope. In the Scripture, the word “blessed” means “happy” or “joyful”. So, the coming of Christ is a happy or joyful expectation, as opposed to the fear and trembling that becloud the minds of many whenever end-time sermons are preached.
However, this expectation is blessed inasmuch as we have prepared. Thus, Jesus says, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds ready when he comes.” We must be ready, alert, and watchful. To be ready is to cultivate a true conscience. We must call good and evil by name and not confuse them. We must be watchful and vigilant.
St. Paul reminds us in the first reading that what Adam destroyed by sin, Christ restored by righteousness. Today, just as the behaviour of one bad man can lead to the destruction of many, so too the behaviour of one good man bring about restoration and peace. Nigeria needs one good man in the right position, and even our experience here will be blessed.
Let us pray.
Lord, help us to live with our lamps lit and ready to welcome you when you come. Give us a holy and true conscience so that we may serve you in all things and be found ready for your coming. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
