Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks” (Lk 12: 35-36).
As disciples, we need to be ready for the coming of Jesus. Yes, for when he comes again at the end of time, but just as importantly, to be prepared for his coming each day in the midst of our lives. If we do not prepare to encounter him daily, the likelihood of us being prepared for his coming again will be slimmer, and only the Father knows the time or the hour.
To plan something means that we outline all that needs to be done down to the last detail. This can be an advantage especially when we are dealing with blueprints for a home or building. By having detailed plans we can be sure we have the proper materials and tools, an estimated budget, and hire the help needed to accomplish the goal. There are many areas in our life where planning has its advantages. Planning our spiritual life is important, deciding when and how we are to pray, meditate, study, engage in Bible and spiritual reading and/or which service we are going to attend, establishing a routine of spiritual direction, time for fellowship and small groups, and how, when and where we can serve others. These are all plusses for planning.
The challenge with planning pops up when we become too attached to the plan and we leave no room for the Holy Spirit, no awareness for the knock at the door because we are so focused on sticking to the plan. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are on the horizon. How many times have we experienced planning a dinner with guests, gotten stressed when things did not go exactly as planned and spent more time adhering to the plan and its execution such that we missed engaging with those we were working so hard to provide hospitality for?
Preparing is akin to planning, in that we get ready but are more flexible to other options not governed by our fixed mind and our sense of being in control. Jesus calls us to be prepared to receive him at any moment. Are we prepared to encounter and be present to a classmate, colleague, family member, or neighbor who asks for help at an inopportune time, the homeless person in need, the undocumented immigrant, migrant, or refugee looking for safety and security, the unborn striving to actualize his or her potential, the coworker that has not been the most pleasant, the person that we perceive as somehow different from us – who we keep at arm’s length?
How about planning and preparing for those unexpected events in life that appear all of a sudden? When we heard of JoAnn’s diagnosis we went into planning mode, and as anyone who has spent any time with JoAnn knows, she was in her element when there was some planning to be done. There were many things in those final months we planned for and for the most part, they came together. There were interruptions to the plan where we needed to adjust, sometimes without notice. Preparing helped us to be flexible in those unexpected moments, to be open to the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit helped us to feel blessed during a tremendously challenging time.
Most recently here at Holy Cross, we were well prepared here in Vero Beach for Hurricane Milton, but needed to be flexible with the surprising onslaught of the tornadoes that touched down. With the quick response from the leadership of our diocese, we have been able to clear much of the damage to the trees, and even though still not able to celebrate Mass in church, our great staff was able to pull together and create a beautiful space this weekend to celebrate in our hall. Ideal? No, but that we were and will continue to be able to come together and make adjustments as needed, we can again worship and pray together. A blessing and gift to be thankful for.
Even before JoAnn’s diagnosis, she often said that life was hard. She saw many people suffering and couldn’t understand why people couldn’t be kinder to one another. St. Oscar Romero wrote, “It would be beautiful if people saw that their flourishing and the attainment of their highest ideals are based on their ability to give themselves to others.” We can better to do so when we are willing to prepare each day to spend time with Jesus, to grow in our relationship with him, so in times of change and challenge, we will know his voice, follow his will, so to heal, grow, be flexible, and adjust as needed so to be ready and helpful to one other when needed.
Photo: We’re still standing! Our cross remained atop Holy Cross Catholic Church!
Spiritual Stepping Stones