Stay Alert

“For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’  then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6)

Today’s reading speaks about the coming of the Lord as a thief at night. Stating that it will come upon them as sudden disaster, like a woman’s labor pains. But those who are not in darkness will not be overtaken by that day. I think those who are “children of the light” are like a woman who is prepared for her labor. She knows that it must come in order for the great miracle of her child’s birth to happen. But the woman can prepare herself. She can take classes on how to work through the pain and not be overwhelmed. She learns how to stay focused and in control. Of course there are medications to help alleviate the pain; I am in total support of that. But knowledge and preparation go a long way in helping her be prepared for her labor.

We must do the same in our everyday lives. We must stay alert and sober. We need to be vigilant in our faith. We need to receive the sacraments frequently so that we can remain strong against the temptations of this world. If we choose to live in darkness, living only for ourselves, thinking that later we will get our act together, we are being foolish. We have no idea when our last day on earth will be and when it comes, that’s it. Do I want to be like the virgins who were foolish and unprepared? The bridegroom came and those who were prepared went into the wedding feast with him and then the doors were locked. When the foolish virgins came back they knocked on the door and said, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!” But Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” (Matthew 25:11-12)