Be Prepared
那時候，耶穌對他的門徒說：「你們要把腰束起，把燈點著，如同等候自己的主人由婚筵回來，為的是主人來到，一敲門，立刻就給他開門。主人來到時，遇見醒寤著的那些僕人，是有福的！我實在告訴你們：主人要束上腰，請他們坐席，親自前來伺候他們。他二更來也罷，三更來也罷，若遇見這樣，那些僕人才是有福的！」
路加福音 12:35-38
在今天的福音中，耶穌吩咐門徒，叫他們要把腰束起，把燈點著，如同等候自己的主人由婚筵回來，好使主人來到時能立刻給他開門。祂說：「醒寤著的那些僕人，是有福的！」
耶穌曾不至一次教導我們要準備自己，隨時迎接祂的再來。祂說過十個童女的比喻，勸人仿傚明智的童女，為自己準備好足夠的油等候新郎。(瑪竇福音 25:1-13)祂也曾勸我們要像家主提防盜賊一樣，不讓自己的房屋被挖穿。(瑪竇福音 24:42-44)耶穌用上不同的比喻，要我們領悟同一個訊息：不論祂要在何時到來，我們都要時時準備好。
耶穌曾說過：「至於那日子和那時刻，除父一個外，誰也不知道，連天上的天使都不知道。」(瑪竇福音24:36)與其猜測祂再來的日子，不如積極的活好每一個當下，這樣，基督再來時，我們便能懷著喜樂歡迎祂。
這篇默想由生命恩泉文摘編輯小組撰寫，內容以下列文章為根據: Commentaries on the daily readings by Sacred Space, 常年期第廿九週星期二
Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”
Luke 12:35-38
In today's Gospel, Jesus said to His disciples that they should gird their loins and light their lamps, and be like servants who await their master's return, so that they will be ready to open immediately when he comes. He said: "Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival."
Jesus had taught us a few times the importance of readiness. He used the Parable of the Ten Virgins and asked us to learn from the wise virgins who brought oil with their lamps. (Matthew 25:1-13) He also asked us to be like a master who stays awake to not let his house be broken into. (Matthew 24:42-44) He used different analogies to preach the same message: no matter when He comes, we have to be ready.
Jesus said: "But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." (Matthew 24:36) Instead of speculating when that day will be, we should live constantly in the present to seek and find God there. When Christ comes again, we will be able to welcome Him with joy.
This reflection is prepared by the FLL Inspire editorial team as a digest of the following two articles: Commentaries on the daily readings by Sacred Space, 常年期第廿九週星期二