As we find ourselves in the sacred period between the Ascension and Pentecost, the readings for Feria VI after the Ascension invite us to reflect deeply on the virtues of vigilance and fidelity, essential for living out our faith as we await the promised Holy Spirit. Today’s scriptural passages from Sirach 31:8-11 and Luke 12:35-40 resonate with timeless wisdom, urging us to embody these virtues in our daily lives.
Sirach 31:8-11: The Blessedness of the Upright
The passage from Sirach exalts the man who is blessed by his freedom from greed and his steadfast integrity. It reads:
“Blessed is the rich man who is found without blemish, and who has not gone after gold. Who is he, and we will call him blessed? For he has done wonderful things among his people. Who has been tested by it and found perfect? Let it be for him a glory. Who could have transgressed and did not transgress, and could do evil and did not do it? Therefore his goods are established in the Lord, and all the Church of the saints shall declare his alms.”
Here, the blessed man is one who, despite having the opportunity, refrains from avarice and sin. His fidelity to God’s commandments, even under temptation, renders him a pillar of moral strength and an exemplar to his community. This man’s wealth is not in material riches but in the virtue of his character and the esteem he garners from the faithful. His alms, or charitable deeds, endure and are celebrated by the Church, symbolizing his lasting legacy in the eyes of God and man.
Luke 12:35-40: The Call to Vigilance
In the Gospel of Luke, Christ instructs His disciples with a parable that underscores the importance of vigilance and readiness:
“Let your loins be girded and lamps burning in your hands. And you yourselves be like men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.”
This passage powerfully illustrates the virtue of vigilance. Jesus compares His followers to servants waiting for their master’s return from a wedding feast. They must remain alert and ready, with their lamps burning, so they can immediately open the door for him. The reward for such faithful servants is extraordinary: the master himself will serve them, reversing the roles to honor their readiness and dedication.
Christ’s admonition to “be ready” is a poignant reminder for us as we live in this interim period of the liturgical year. We are called to spiritual alertness, living in constant anticipation of the Lord’s return. This readiness is not passive but active, requiring us to keep the “lamps” of our faith and charity burning brightly.
Connecting the Readings: A Unified Call to Faithful Stewardship
Together, these readings offer a unified call to faithful stewardship. Sirach emphasizes the internal virtues of integrity and resistance to sin, while Luke stresses the external posture of readiness and active service. Both virtues are essential as we navigate our earthly pilgrimage, especially in this time after the Ascension when we await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The blessed man in Sirach and the vigilant servants in Luke are both models for us. They embody the balance of being grounded in moral virtue while actively engaged in the world, prepared to respond to the Lord’s call at any moment.
Living the Reflection
As we reflect on these scriptures, let us ask ourselves:
- Are we living with the integrity and uprightness celebrated in Sirach?
- Are we vigilant and ready, with our spiritual lamps burning, as Jesus describes in Luke?
In our daily lives, we can embody these virtues by committing to regular prayer, participating in the sacraments, and performing acts of charity. Let us be ever watchful and faithful, so that when the Lord comes, He will find us ready and waiting, prepared to enter into His joy.
May this period after the Ascension be a time of deep spiritual preparation and renewal for us all, as we eagerly anticipate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Amen.