GOSPEL READING:
Luke 12:35-3835 "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!
Meditation: If the Lord Jesus knocked on your door today
would you be ready and eager to receive him? He wants us to be
prepared for his coming - today, tomorrow, at the hour of our
departure from this life (our death), and when he comes again at
the end of this present world to reward those who have believed in
him - the only begotten Son of the Father in heaven who was sent
to deliver us from sin and death. The Lord Jesus calls to us each
and every day. He says, "Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If
you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will
eat together" (Revelations 3:20).
Be watchful and ready to serve the Lord when he calls
Jesus told his followers a parable from everyday life that
illustrated the necessity of being prepared to open the door at
once when the Master of the house knocks and calls for his
servants to let him in. Doors in the ancient world were often
bolted from the inside, especially at night, to keep out thieves
and troublemakers. Servants who knew their master's voice were
expected to be vigilant and prepared to unbolt the door and let
him in without a moment's delay. This required a listening ear and
attentive spirit that could block out other noises and
distractions. If the servants refused to answer the door or
delayed too long, they could expect a rebuke or punishment from
the master.
The Lord and Master serves us
But Jesus' story adds an unexpected reward for those who open at
once - even in the middle of the night when everyone is fast
asleep. The master who returns from a wedding feast to his home
late at night does the unthinkable when his servants greet him at
the door. He puts on a servant's uniform and apron and seats his
servants at his own table. And then - to their astonishment no
doubt - the master himself waits on his servants at table by
serving them his choice food and drink. Jesus' parable turns the
world's way of thinking upside-down. The master rewards his
faithful servants by serving them himself with the best provision,
care, and service he can offer.
The Lord Jesus became a servant for our sake
This story illustrates the amazing generous spirit,
servant-hearted love, and profound humility of God who is the
exalted Lord and Master over all he has created. The Father sent
his only begotten Son to become a man for our sake who shed his
blood for us on the cross to save us from slavery to sin and Satan
and victory over death through his resurrection power that gives
us new abundant life in his Spirit. Paul the Apostle tells us that
Jesus who was equal with the Father, nonetheless, humbled himself
and became a servant for our sake (Philippians 2:5-8).
Do you listen for the voice of the Lord calling to you? And are
you ready to receive him today so that you may be nourished with
his life-giving word that has power to transform you into his
likeness and way of steadfast love and merciful goodness? The Lord
Jesus offers us rich food and provision for our daily lives. But
we can miss his daily provision if we allow our hearts, minds, and
ears to be distracted with other things - even good things that
crowd out his voice and invitation to let him enter and feast with
us.
The Lord loves faithfulness
Jesus' parable also has an important lesson for each one of us as
well. Just as Jesus was faithful and ready to obey his Father in
everything - even to the point of laying down his life for us on
the cross, we, too are called to be faithful and ready to do
whatever our heavenly Father commands us. How can we serve as
Jesus served and be faithful to the end of our days? Only love -
the love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5) - can transform us
and fill us with joy and courage in offering our lives in humble
service to God and one another. The Lord Jesus sets us free from
fear and pride so we can love and serve one another as he has
loved and served each one of us (Ephesians 5:2). Ask the Lord to
give you a servant heart and a willing spirit that is ready to
listen and eager to obey.
Lord Jesus, you loved me first and you gave your life for me. Fill me with a joyful heart and a generous spirit that is ready to serve and to do whatever you command.
Psalm 40:7-10, 16
6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire; but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
7 Then I said, "Behold, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me;
8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.
10 I have not hid your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The true meaning of 'loins girded and lamps burning', by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"The girding of our loins (Luke 12:25) signifies the readiness of
the mind to work hard in every thing praiseworthy. Those who apply
themselves to bodily labors and are engaged in strenuous toil have
their loins girded. The lamp apparently represents the wakefulness
of the mind and intellectual cheerfulness. We say that the human
mind is awake when it repels any tendency to slumber off into that
carelessness that often is the means of bringing it into
subjection to every kind of wickedness. When sunk in stupor, the
heavenly light within the mind is liable to be endangered, or even
already is in danger from a violent and impetuous blast of wind.
Christ commands us to be awake. To this, his disciple also arouses
us by saying, 'Be awake. Be watchful' (1 Peter 5:8). Further on,
the very wise Paul also says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from
the dead: and Christ shall give you light' (Ephesians 5:14)." (excerpt
from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 92)
