Thursday – 21st Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel - Matthew 24:4-51

Ready?  Set!  Go!

Caesarea Philippi

Now that summer is effectively over and school is back in session, time to reminisce a bit!

Remember that first day of school when we were little?  Maybe we were excited?  Maybe upset that the summer was over?  Maybe glad that we get to see our friends again?  Maybe nervous about a new teacher, new classes, (new homework)!  But do you remember all the work, all the preparation that our parents went through to get us ready for that day?  Shopping for school supplies, new clothes/uniforms!  Trips to the grocery store for extra food to make for school lunches!  Maybe even getting us up early weeks before school started so that we were back on schedule. 

Our parents probably spent weeks getting us ready for that first day of school.  And for many of you, you were doing exactly the same thing this week, getting your kids ready for school.  So much preparation!  And why do we do it?  Because we love our kids and we want to keep them safe and protected!  We want to make sure they are prepared for the new day, the new school year. 

And so it is with today’s Gospel and the story of the faithful and unfaithful servant.  The faithful servant is always ready, always prepared for the return of the master.  And the unfaithful one wastes his time and never looks to the future.  Too late, he rushes at the last minute to make up for all the lost time and opportunities.  We are all called to be ready for the return of the master; it is not a simple last minute rush; it’s a lifelong preparation.  It requires faith and dedication and yes, even love.  It requires the sort of effort we put in to get our kids ready for school and, dare I say, for life.  It is an unquestioning faith in the future and an unconditional love for each other and for the Master!

Creator of all, keep me focused today and every day on my one true purpose – to serve You!  Guide me; lead me to always be ready to answer the call to turn my faith in You into an active love for others.

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