All packed?

       One of the things that I like to ask myself from time to time during any given day is,"are you ready to meet your maker?"  It isn't quite an out of the blue question. One day not to many years ago I was getting ready to head to spin class, part of my normal routine.  On this day I had to see my cardiologist as part of the routine, aging process.  I am not a gym rat but I am in better shape now than I have ever been. Or so I thought. The cardiologist was ready to proclaim I was doing an excellent job, blood pressure ok, tennis, spinning, hiking and yes, I could lose some weight.  One more test just to be thorough. And there it was, a ripe aneurysm.  Big enough to warrant scheduling the needed surgery, not quite big enough to rush me to the ER. The one thing I know from so many years working in a teaching hospital and trauma center is that most people don't know they have aneurysms until it blows, terminal notification so to speak. Most do not survive. I was getting a warning. Still, it could blow at any time. For every minute before the surgery I was acutely aware that I could be asked to make an account of my life and face my maker with final judgment. If you ave regrets in life, this puts them to the fore. 

         I often argue for self reflection and critical self analysis in life. Our growth and spiritual health depend on it. It may not be an acute situation but it is still the thing to do. As in today's passage, you never know when the bride groom returns from the reception. You never know when the thief will be coming and storing finery is of no value if you are called home to the Lord this very night. 

         It seems like a good thing then to ask oneself if you are ready to meet your maker. Are you ready? Do you have some adjustments that need to be made? Are you all packed so to speak? If you are not ready to knock on those pearly gates, what must you do?

Luke 12:32-48

 ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 ‘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.

 ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

 Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.