Today’s gospel reminds me of what can happen in marathon-like times; times when we can’t be sure when things like the Master will return … or when this pandemic will end.
This unusual time feels a lot like that deeply profound and classic movie, “Groundhog Day,” which stars Bill Murray. Murray plays a cynical local TV weatherman who is stuck in a time loop, and each day he awakens to February 2.
At first, Murray’s character tries to distract himself by binge eating and drinking, or engaging in whatever he thinks will give him pleasure. Nothing is lasting or satisfying, and soon he is back to where he began. The turning point is when his costar, Rita, encourages him to recognize the silver lining in his time loop; the ability to help others and to grow personally.
Jesus tells us that we “… must be prepared, for at an hour we do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
None of us were prepared for this pandemic. What we have been better prepared for is our spiritual life to help us navigate through this challenging time.
The last line of the gospel is a wake-up call to each of us, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Unlike Bill Murray’s character, though our lives may be constrained, life continues, we live our faith, we celebrate the birth of children and mourn the loss of loved ones, and in these and other times, Jesus is reminding us of how we can be prepared for when He returns.
We realize that how we live today, tomorrow and the next days is all about getting ready to meet Jesus … every day, but in a special way, when He comes again.
May God bless you and your families this holy day!
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