Today’s Gospel reading from Luke emphasizes the theme of “preparation.” Jesus warns the disciples to be prepared for the second coming of the Lord. He prefaces this with the gentle and consoling words, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” Jesus knows that preparing to meet the Lord can be frightening. He uses a parable to describe this event as a thief who comes at night and at an hour we do not know. Does this have much meaning for us today or is Jesus speaking about something far in the future? Jesus is telling us to prepare ourselves now. We know not when our time will come to meet Christ in our death. We don’t know when we will see Christ face to face. He tells us to “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.” Jesus is telling all his disciples, including us, to be prepared by believing in God and doing His will each day. He urges us to remove obstacles that may hinder us. It is not an easy task, but Jesus tells us it is worth it, “Blessed is the servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.” We must examine our own lives to see if we are “prepared.” Jesus cautions us, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” What do we treasure? What preoccupies our mind and our actions? Sure, we have responsibilities to our families, our neighbors and our community. But where does God fit on our “list”? Today’s reading is all about placing God first and being prepared to meet and welcome Christ in our lives every single day in the people we meet and our interactions with them. Remember when the apostles asked Jesus “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison and not minister to your needs?” (Mt 25:44) We each encounter the Lord in unexpected ways every day. Are we ready to recognize Him in our daily encounters? Are we ready to do His will? If we are, then we WILL be prepared when our death comes to meet Him face to face. There is no need to fear that day because God wants to give all who believe in Him entry into His kingdom. There is no greater gift than His love!