Vigilance for the Lord, Prayer & Service – Oct 21 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 21, 2025, on how Jesus calls us to spiritual vigilance, living in grace and prayer to be ready for His return.

He emphasizes spiritual vigilance from Luke 12:37, where blessed servants are found watchful upon the Master's arrival. The term vigilant, from Latin for watchful and awake, relates to vigil Masses preparing for feasts. Father explains Jesus' call in Luke 12:35-36 to gird loins and light lamps, echoing the Exodus Passover preparations for nighttime flight from Egypt. This urges constant readiness in grace, avoiding mortal sin, with no spiritual days off. Daily prayer is crucial, done as one can, to maintain alertness. He recounts King David's lapse in Acts 13:22, lounging instead of fighting, leading to adultery and murder, showing the cost of lack of vigilance. The wedding imagery in Luke 12:36 symbolizes Christ's marriage feast, knocking at our heart's door as in Revelation 3:20 and St. Therese's cell sketch. At death, He brings paradise, saying in Matthew 25:21, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Theophylact interprets girded loins as readiness for service and burning lamps as reason's light to discern good from evil, guided by faith, hope, and charity against cultural darkness. From 1 John 5:4, faith overcomes the world. Vigilance means fearing God by keeping commandments, not paranoia, living in freedom from sin and worldly attachments as in John 8:36 and 2 Corinthians 3:17. In Luke 12:37, the Master serves the vigilant, reversing roles as Jesus did washing feet in Luke 22:27. Father invokes Mary for graces to battle spiritually, shining light per Matthew 5:16.

For Further Reading:
Luke 12:37 - NAB - Blessed are vigilant servants - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?37
Exodus 12:11 - NAB - Passover readiness instructions - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/12?11
Acts 13:22 - NAB - David as man after God's heart - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?22
Revelation 3:20 - NAB - Behold I stand at the door - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/3?20
Matthew 25:21 - NAB - Well done good servant - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25?21
1 John 5:4 - NAB - Faith conquers the world - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/5?4
John 8:36 - NAB - Son sets you free - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/8?36
2 Corinthians 3:17 - NAB - Where Spirit is freedom - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/3?17
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2849 - Vigilance in prayer - Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2849.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2732 - Battle of prayer - Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2732.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1817 - Hope in God's promises - Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1817.htm

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 29th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102125.cfm
1st: rom 5:12, 15, 17-19, 20-21
Resp: psa 40:7-10, 17
Gsp: luk 12:35-38

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1530

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