The liturgy of the 19th Sunday presents us with an interesting theme on man’s need to be watchful, sober and vigilant. The three readings insist that even when one thinks that one is free from danger, one should always adopt watchfulness, soberness and vigilance as the main qualities of one’s character: Wisdom 18: 6–9; Psalm 33; Hebrews 11: 1–2; 8–19; Luke 12: 32–48. In the Gospel Jesus summarizes what the above readings require of man in his own words. And that is to be ready at all times for the end, to live each day as if it were the last one and to render fully to God what he expects from each one of us. Shortly after his resurrection and return to his Heavenly Father, these words of Jesus on watchfulness attracted the first Christians as they found in them what would be called a Christian character. They liked to meditate on these words as he had taught them: ‘Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him’ In his style as a great teacher Jesus explains that the pain it may take in being watchful, sober and vigilant is nothing compared to the reward that the men above will receive from the master when he finds them on their guard even if comes ‘in the second or third watch of the night’: their master will dress himself to serve them, have them recline at the table and then come and wait on them!’ Then as the crowd seemed so amazed at the story, Jesus drives his point at home: “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Lk.12:40). The theme of watchfulness, soberness and vigilance was so central to Jesus’ teaching that the subsequent preachers among his disciples dwelt on it for quite long. When we meditate on such admonitions, we are given to understand how much this theme is still topical to our post modern period. St. Paul in his letter to Romans 13:11-14 warned them that they should read the signs of time and know that now is the high time to awake out of sleep in order to cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. The first Christians understood well this teaching and chose the above values as the main reference for what we may call now a Christian character. St. Peter in rather frightening words used to show this choice as imperative since doing otherwise would be like committing suicide. In his first letter he says: gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:13) He insists in the same letter: be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour! (1 Pet 5:8) Today if we asked ourselves how relevant this theme of watchfulness, soberness and vigilance is still to us today, most people would agree that we too need to adopt it as the characteristic of the modern man. Parents all over the world know better as they seem always worried of what might happen to their children if they are not watchful. Like St. Peter, most parents live in fear that the adversary the devil, out there in the world is roaring as a lion, seeking to devour their children. And they are right. One can’t imagine what would happen to someone who may choose to lead a careless life in our present world with all its problems. Unfortunately, that kind of situation in which the parent-child relation finds itself in our modern world continues to create so many unnecessary conflicts. As the watchful care of the parents becomes endless the youth complain of the danger of such harsh interference! Some educationists discourage what they call excessive control of parents over their children, ‘because it may instill fear in their heart.’ They say! Perhaps such people may do well paying attention to the saying widely attributed to Aeschylus: ‘There are times when fear is good. If it keeps its watchful place at the heart’s controls.’ Parents are right and they should continue pushing ahead, because that time is now. When it comes to watchfulness, soberness and vigilance, we are all concerned. In his different situation, modern man, more than ever before, needs to develop and obey the watchful eye of caution. Email: casimir1958@yahoo.com
