October 21, 2014

Lk 12: 35-38

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

Live with Enthusiasm

As a teacher I was always nervous when the principal came to observe my classroom. My fears would typically subside, though, as the students participated more than usual.

This past spring’s observation threw me for a loop. The students were chomping at the bit to speak—speaking over each other; using the material to make jokes. As the lesson progressed I thought, “What are these kids doing? They need to take it down a notch. What is the principal going to think?” When I later encountered the principal, I couldn’t resist asking her thoughts about the class. She responded, “It’s clear your students are excited for your class with many interested in participating and speaking out.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus does not tell his disciples to put on a good show because the master has walked in the door. Rather, he challenges us to live with excitement and enthusiasm—letting the master walk in on that.

—Brad Held, S.J., a Jesuit of the Wisconsin province, is currently a theology student at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He has just come from 3 years of teaching at Red Cloud Indian School on the Holy Rosary Jesuit Mission in Pine Ridge, SD.

Prayer

Lord, you are knocking on our door. You beckon us toward hope, promise, and eternal surprise of astonishing joy. We fully commit all our thoughts and actions to you. And pray for gratitude as we witness the sunrises and sunsets of our life.

—The Jesuit Prayer Team