The parables in today’s Gospel (Luke 12:39–48) illustrate the principle that it is often difficult to prepare and remain ready for an event that seems far off; to do so requires real discipline and dedication. I saw this as an assistant cross country and track coach, where it was difficult to motivate our distance runners to keep training over the winter break when the spring track season did not begin until March; there were a host of other things that students could do with their free time after school instead. Only those athletes who were sincerely dedicated to the sport continued to train. When the season did finally roll around, inevitably several less engaged runners were caught unprepared and so spent the first few weeks of track merely getting back into shape.
Jesus tells us today that the Son of Man will come like a thief in the night, and he warns us to be ready for that coming. The question for us today, then, is this: what is the measure of our fidelity and dedication to the Lord? Let us examine ourselves, not despairing when we fall short, but humbly turning back to Christ in prayer and in desire to seek his will in our loves.