From: Luke 12:35-38
The Need for Vigilance and the Parable of the Steward
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [35] "Let your loins be girded and your
lamps burning, [36] and be like men who are waiting for their master to
come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once
when he comes and knocks. [37] Blessed are those servants whom the
master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird
himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.
[39] If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them
so, blessed are those servants!"
Commentary:
35-39. In the preaching of Christ and of the Apostles we are frequently
exhorted to be watchful (cf. Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Mark 14:34)--for one
thing, because the enemy is always on the prowl (cf. 1 Peter 5:8), and
also because a person in love is always awake (cf. Song of Songs 5:2).
This watchfulness expresses itself in a spirit of prayer (cf. Luke
21:36; 1 Peter 4:7) and fortitude in faith (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:13).
See the note on Matthew 25:1-13.
[The note on Matthew 25:1-13 states:
1-13. The main lesson of this parable has to do with the need to be on
the alert: in practice, this means having the light of faith, which is
kept alive with the oil of charity. Jewish weddings were held in the
house of the bride's father. The virgins are young unmarried girls,
bridesmaids who are in the bride's house waiting for the bridegroom to
arrive. The parable centers on the attitude one should adopt up to the
time when the bridegroom comes. In other words, it is not enough to
know that one is "inside" the Kingdom, the Church: one has to be on the
watch and be preparing for Christ's coming by doing good works.
This vigilance should be continuous and unflagging, because the devil
is forever after us, prowling around "like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). "Watch with the heart, watch with
faith, watch with love, watch with charity, watch with good works
[...]; make ready the lamps, make sure they do not go out [...], renew
them with the inner oil of an upright conscience; then shall the
Bridegroom enfold you in the embrace of His love and bring you into His
banquet room, where your lamp can never be extinguished" (St.
Augustine, "Sermon", 93).]
35. To enable them to do certain kinds of work the Jews used to hitch
up the flowing garments they normally wore. "Girding your loins"
immediately suggests a person getting ready for work, for effort, for a
journey etc. (cf. Jeremiah 1:17; Ephesians 6:14; 1 Peter 1:13).
Similarly, "having your lamps burning" indicates the sort of attitude a
person should have who is on the watch or is waiting for someone's
arrival.
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.