Watch out! It's a trap!

Watch out! It's a trap!

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”-Luke21:24-36

Jesus is warning us all to be careful and be watchful lest our hearts be weighed down by carousing, drunkenness and anxieties of life. Many people have been dragged down and reduced into slaves of pleasure - that never truly satisfies. Many people have been destroyed by drunkenness and addiction. Many people have been destroyed by anxieties of life like debts, poverty, etc. Not only that, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur..." [Luke17:1]. What should we do then? "Be always on the watch and pray..." [Luke21:36]. We pray for deliverance, for strength and to be aware of our actions in response to the challenges of life.

The other day, I watched the movie "Frozen." Hans was supposed to be the knight in shining armor, the prince charming, the hero. I thought that he is a character to watch out for. But right in the middle of a very good and heroic selfless venture, one comment is all that it takes to tick him off. When the duke said that, "... Arendelle is in your hands..," Hans became ambitious for himself. Now he plans to be the next king, the savior, the hero that saved them all to such an extent that he almost killed the two sisters. Imagine a little comment destroying a good and heroic man.

Life is a constant struggle, a constant battle. We need not be afraid because Jesus is with us all the time making us careful and watchful. Above all, Jesus is inviting us to pray always.

Image courtesy: various artists

Vigilance and Faithfulness

Stay awake and be ready!

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.-Luke12:35-38

Apart from vigilance and faithfulness, the Gospel reading is also about honesty. Sometimes, staff and employees do things when the master is away. They slacken; they loiter about; they chat and gossip; they idle; they steal away from the office to do some recreation outside.

That is why, any employer or boss is happy to find an honest, vigilant and faithful staff or employee who does his/her work well and diligently despite no one around to monitor him/her, and continues to do so when there are people around monitoring his/her work. Some people live up to the saying, "When the cat is away, the mouse will play." while others do not.

Putting myself in the shoes of the master of the house, I would be very happy when my servants are awake, waiting for me and immediately open the door when I knock. The Bridegroom is made happy when he looks about and sees the invited guests and bridesmaids waiting for his arrival no matter how late it is.

If Jesus comes again and sees us ready, vigilant and expecting Him, He will be very happy - to such an extent that He will be the One to serve us, rather than the other way around. This vigilance, readiness and preparedness can be expressed through acts of faith, hope, charity, above all, LOVE. If Jesus comes again, what will He find in our hearts?

Photo by: Dreamstime, unknown artist, St. Takla Org.