REFLECTION FOR TODAY
November 27, 2021
By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA
Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.” Luke 21:36
Tomorrow we enter the season of Advent and begin a new liturgical year. In our gospel reference today on this day, Jesus points to two grave dangers that will cause our hearts to become “drowsy” and leave us unprepared. First, He says that “carousing and drunkenness” will make us unprepared. Second, He says that “the anxieties of daily life” will also leave us unprepared
Jesus emphasizes that every Christian needs to be vigilant and prepared because we cannot be sure of the time of our own death when we will be asked to give an account of our lives. Vigilance consists in getting strengthened by prayer so that we may be free from evil addictions and unnecessary attachment to worldly pleasures.
Jesus also instructs us to be vigilant because we do not know the time either of our own death or of the end of the world and His second coming. Our calling is to be vigilant is not limited simply to turn away from sin. God calls us also to exercise the spiritual gifts that he has given us so we can help transform the world.
We need to avoid spiritual laziness and indifference. We need to be freed from excessive and crippling anxiety, needless worries, and evil habits. We need to get our strength from God by prayer, which means listening to God and talking to Him. Jesus is calling us to prepare the world and ourselves for his return in glory. Take a moment and ask yourself: Are you ready to meet the Lord? Do you care if those around you are ready? Are you trying to do the will of God every day?
Reflect, today, upon those things that hinder you the most from being ready to meet our Lord. Perhaps you struggle with ongoing choices that reflect a life of “carousing and drunkenness.” Or perhaps you struggle deeply with worry, distress, and anxiety. If this is you, know that freedom awaits. It awaits you if you can only embrace and live the final prayer of this reflection: “Jesus, I trust in You.” Trust Him. Entrust your poor decisions in life to Him. Entrust your sin to Him. And entrust all of your worries and tensions that lead to an unsettled heart. As you do so, try to rest in the consoling arms of our Lord so that you will be fully prepared for that glorious day of our Lord’s judgment that awaits.
Lord, You and You alone are the answer to every struggle in life. You and You alone can relieve me of my burdens and the poor choices I make. Help me to trust in You always and in every circumstance in life. I do entrust myself to You and choose to make You the single focus of my life. Jesus, I do trust in You!