By Emily Cavins

“You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” ~ Luke 12:40

The closest we may get to knowing what Christ’s return could be like is preparing for a pilgrimage or a vacation. We get all the bills paid, get someone to care for the pets, pack, clean out the fridge, and notify the neighbors. We prepare well, yet even while preparing, we could be caught off guard by his return.

Think about this scenario: right in the middle of choosing between a dress and a skirt to pack, someone knocks on the door. They bring in a whole meal for you and insist on serving it to you. Standing there in shock, you think, I have so many things left to do. I don’t have time for this intrusion, as wonderful as it is. Suddenly, someone other than you is in the driver’s seat, and you are embarrassed that you didn’t shower, and the dishes are all over the counter.

Rewind that scene to where you were staring at two different outfits, but you were also praying on the phone with a dear friend whose spouse just lost his job. When the unexpected guest shows up to serve you dinner, you wave them in and ask the guest to pray with you for your friend.

Fill in the blank as to what you would like to be caught doing when this important guest arrives unexpectedly. My hope would be that I was not arguing with someone or badmouthing someone or whining about the broken air conditioner. It seems that it isn’t worth it to be centered on myself if at any moment my guest will arrive. I need to be prepared for the guest above all, and not for all my personal wishes.  

Not only do we need to prepare for the eventual return of Jesus Christ as commanded in today’s Gospel, but we need to prepare for each encounter with Jesus, who comes to us in other people. St. Theresa of Calcutta was the best at bringing that to light in our days. She saw the face of Jesus in each person. With that in mind, our actions each day with any person are like the moment we will see Christ. In each encounter with our family members, we experience Christ’s unexpected return. We should be caught speaking kindly, showing love, trying to understand, trying to serve, trying to make life better.

As I reflect on some of the things I have done, I realize that many times I put things over people. Now that I am a grandparent, I can see things a little differently. I see that nothing is more important than the well-being of a person. If someone accidentally breaks one of my belongings, I am not so concerned with whatever it was that broke as I am with the feelings of the “culprit.” In my response, I want to be sure to convey that the “culprit” is far more valuable than the broken item. I don’t want Jesus to walk in while I’m upset about a thing more than I am about a person. I have used the phrase “people over things” with my grandchildren enough times now to get a laugh or eye-roll from them.

Prayer

Dear Lord, Let me be ready when you return. I pray that you find me loving others and not serving myself. May I see your face in everyone I encounter. Amen

Call to Action

Take one day and act as though Jesus was returning on that day. Pay attention to how you treat others, especially. Perhaps you can do some spiritual housecleaning with him in mind.

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