ONCE again, we are reminded of this need for vigilance in that gospel episode where Christ reminded his disciples to be like the servants who “await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.” (Mt 12,36)
He prefaced this instruction by saying that they sell their belongings and give alms, and to provide money bags that do not wear out, “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.” (cfr. Mt 12,33)
In other words, that our whole mind and heart should be focused on God, seeing to it that we would always really feel the need to be with God regardless of how things go or develop during the day. Christ expressed this point by saying, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (cfr. Mt 12,34)
How very important therefore that we keep our mind and heart always feeling the need to be with God. Our need for God should be like our need for air, for food, for anything that gives us pleasure. Our need for God should be our strongest need. We should feel it to the bones.
This is the only way we can succeed in navigating today’s very complicated and tricky times that are full of distractions and sweet poisons. We truly need to be vigilant always, in good times and in bad times, and most especially in ordinary times which we still would not know whether it is good or bad. We should never let our guard down.
This is simply because we have enemies to contend with all the time. First of all, it is our own selves, our own weakened flesh that will always lure us to do things against God’s will and against what is truly good for us.
Then we have the world with all its sinful attractions and temptations. And, of course, the devil himself. Never discount him. He’s always around, prowling like a lion looking for someone to devour. (cfr 1 Pt 5,8)
In what may seem to be good times, when things are more or less ok, let us thank God and do our best to make use of all the blessings and good opportunities made available for us.
But let’s not forget that the good things can also occasion dangers for us if we are not careful. We should know where those dangers lie in the good things that we may enjoy at the moment. In that way, we avoid falling into complacency that will practically spoil us, and take away the goodness of the blessings we are enjoying.
And in what may seem to be bad times, let us never forget to look for the one good thing in those situations. There will always be one or two or even more good things on these occasions and turn them into the vehicles for redemption.
If we are effectively guided by our Christian faith, we know that even the negative elements, events and circumstances in our life can be used to get us closer to God, instead of separating us from him. This can only mean that we should always be humble so that we would always feel the need for God whatever the conditions of our life may be.
This is how we can be truly vigilant, able to promptly and sharply discern the confusing mix of good and evil in our daily life.
