Luke 21: 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Full-Time Discipleship
The verses in Luke preceding this reading describe signs of the end of the world in detail — natural and man-made disasters, territorial wars, heavenly disturbances. But these kinds of events have happened throughout human history. How will we know when they actually portend the end?
If we do what Jesus commands us, we won’t need to worry about the “when.” Jesus says if we want to have the spiritual strength to stand before the Son of Man, our faith can’t be a part-time gig. We’re warned to “be alert at all times,” not just during fires, floods and earthquakes. Stock brokers say you can’t time the market — the same goes for Armageddon.
What an uncomfortable directive! But lying down on the job is not an option. We can’t party to distraction and then expect to suddenly sober up just in time for Judgment Day.
—Laura Asplund is the Business Manager at Queen of All Saints School, the Roman Catholic elementary school of Queen of All Saints Basilica in Chicago. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., where she was blessed to know Fr. Albert Bischoff, SJ, who ministered to the Catholic students on campus and called everyone “saint.”
Prayer
Lord, please help me to keep my eyes watchful, my ears attentive, and my mind awake to continue to serve you always. Fill my heart with your presence so I can avoid the temptations of this life and be with you in the next.
—Laura Asplund
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