Vigilance

Christianity is a religion of anticipation, of hope. We as Christians are waiting for something more that is to come. What is it that we are waiting for? Contrary to popular belief, what we are waiting for is not just to die and go to heaven. What we are awaiting is our Lord’s return!

In each of the four gospel accounts, Jesus makes several promises and assertions that He will return. In this month of November in particular, we called to keep vigil, to keep watch for something that is still to come. Specifically, we are called to stay watchful and vigilant for our Lord’s return to us.

I sometimes like to offer as a brainteaser when I teach about heaven that heaven is not actually our final destination. By that I mean that heaven as it is right now is not our final destination. This is because the resurrection and the union of heaven with earth is actually our final destination, at least for those who remain faithful to the end. When Jesus returns, He will put an end to sin and death; He will judge both the living and the dead, raising the faithful to eternal life with Him and raising the unfaithful to eternal death. 

This is why He calls us to remain vigilant, not just watchful. The parable of the trustworthy servants is to call us to remain faithful to our vocations as Christians, to live out our faith actively each day, so that when our Lord returns He will find us hard at work carrying out the tasks that He has entrusted to us. As we bring our offerings to our Lord this day, ask Him for the grace to remain vigilant always, to have the Christian life as our greatest priority each day, that when our Lord returns He might find us hard at work in His vineyard!