COMMON OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Be vigilant at all times.

Remember when you were in grade school and your teacher used to tell you to stop talking or not to get out of your chair again? If you didn’t behave, you’d be sent to the principal’s office.

Well, in today’s Gospel reading (Luke 21:34-36), Jesus’ warning about standing before the “Son of Man” can sound as scary to us as the principal’s office sounds to a young student (Luke 21:36). You’d better be good, or you’re going to be in deep trouble!

But what if we looked at this reading more through the lens of Jesus’ love than through the lens of our fear? Maybe we could see that he is warning us not to become spiritually “drowsy” because he doesn’t want us to miss out on the privilege of living in his presence (Luke 21:34).

We all know how “carousing and drunkenness” can make us spiritually dull and drowsy, but the same thing can happen if we get caught up in our day-to-day activities. Like a married couple who drift apart because they have let chores, errands, and work dominate their lives, we can become so preoccupied with our obligations that we neglect Jesus’ invitation to spend time with him. We know that time with Jesus is too precious and life-giving to receive short shrift, but by the end of the day, we’re just too tired.

We know that Jesus will return someday. But we should worry less about what will happen when he does and pay more attention to how we can wake up and respond—right now—to his presence in our lives. That’s what it means to be vigilant: to look for Jesus right here and right now, not to get caught up in what he will do in the future.

Every day is another opportunity to “stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). Every day is a fresh chance to come into Jesus’ presence, let him teach you through his word, and let him form your heart. If you stay faithful to him every day, you’ll have nothing to fear on that final day when you stand before him once more—this time for all eternity.

“Jesus, help me to wake up to your presence today.”

Daniel 7:15-27
(Psalm) Daniel 3:82-87
Luke 21:34-36