Thursday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
1 Thes 3: 7-13; Mt 24: 42-51
Dc. Larry Brockman
I hear it all the time: I’m too busy right now; maybe later on when my life calms down, after the kids have left for school; or after I take care of remodeling the house; or after the peak in my business; or after any number of things; then I will get in tune with the Lord and his will for me. Chances are, after the kids go to school, you will remodel your house, and then work harder during the business peak, and then something else will come up.
Today’s Gospel is intended to wake all of us up. Now is the time to pay attention to what the Lord has in mind for you- yes, right in the midst of your busy daily life; and right in the midst of all the special circumstances. God is calling you even then; maybe even especially then, to listen to what he has in mind for you.
You see, like the steward the Lord put in charge of his property, The Lord has entrusted you with gifts and talents and service to others. You are called to live out your Baptismal promise to believe in Him and to serve others on his behalf; to love others as Christ has loved you. It is a promise you made in exchange for membership in the Kingdom of God when you were Baptized. It is our challenge to always be in touch with God during the midst of life’s secular activity and to respond to him in real time, not our time, when he calls us.
Tell me this seriously. Which of us hasn’t swept aside the voices we hear pleading for help, and proceeded to live life according to our plans instead? The crisis in Texas is an example. It would seem that all of us should and can do something- it’s not just FEMA’s problem or the President’s problem or the Governor of Texas’s problem. There’s a tremendous crisis effecting hundreds of thousands of our own people right now.
If we ignore that crisis, isn’t it a little bit like the steward who beat his servants, shirking his responsibilities; and then partied away into the night? Jesus tells us that the Lord could come at any time and that the persons he has entrusted with much will be held accountable for their actions.
So will we. We are just as accountable for sins of omission as sins of commission. The Lord could come at any time.
So do yourself a favor. Stay awake; stay in tune; listen to the call of those in real need. And always take the time to do something. We are people with time, talent, and treasure. We can pray; we can donate; we can volunteer. But we all should be doing something. We can never be too busy to serve the Lord. After all, all of those affected are part of the Body of Christ.