Luke 21: 34-36 Be Vigilant!
“Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20c)
The early Christians were eagar for Christ's return. But the Lord did not appear. Instead, he instructs us to be patient and vigilant; to wait until the dust settles. With the Lord’s delay comes carousing and drunkenness. The added anxieties of the day can easily hold hostage our hearts and muddle our minds. Today, the Lord reminds us of how easy it is to fall apart! We know that the heart can grow weary, the mind – a little cloudy, and the soul a little dry. Be vigilant, seek the Lord! Invite him into your life! Do not hold him back. Allow him to circulate in your veins and arouse your heart. Let us cry out to the Lord, “Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!”
This is the Christian's battle cry; the most ancient prayer said out loud during the Roman and Jewish persecutions. It also seems to be their most solemn prayer. It should be mine too, especially:
When life is good, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When difficulties abound and I cannot face another day, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I think I have the strength to keep going on, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I am full of joy, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I’m sinking deeper and deeper into despair, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I am lost and cannot find my way back to you, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I am afraid or alone, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I sing or cry out to you, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I am tired of carrying my cross, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When I think I understand, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
When hopelessness enters my heart, “Come Lord Jesus!”
When I don’t know what I am doing, “Come Lord Jesus!”
When I think I know what I am doing, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I make a decision, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I speak to another, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I get into my car, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I go home, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I go shopping, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I use the Internet, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I use my phone, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I go to Mass, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Every time I pray, “Come Lord Jesus!”
The Lord demands my love – with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength and all my will. Come Lord Jesus, into my body and blood, into my daily activities and into my life. Amen!
Dear Fr. Alfonse,
ReplyDeleteToday in your homily you talked about being vigilant and how the Lord doesn't just appear in a flash. How it has already been two thousand year and we are still waiting but that we need to live out our lives as Christians.
It reminded me of the song by Casting Crowns, "Slow Fade". The song talks about how we don't crumble in a day. How we slowly let the things that we think, look at and say, that are not Christ-like, cause us to crumble.
We need to be vigilant in our prayer life, we need to not deceive ourselves into believing that one "little" lie is ok, one movie with immoral values is ok because we don't live like that, or that I am justified in being hurtful with my words because I was hurt by what the other person said to me.
As you mentioned in your homily and your meditation, we need to call upon the Lord to be a part of every moment of our day. This way I won't crumble under the pressures of this world and will be ready for the Lord when He does come.
"Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Lord,
Give me the strength to do Your will and to invite You into every part of my life. So that one day I will be able to stand before You and hear the words, "good and faithful servant". This I pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.