“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.”
Luke 12:35-36
I’ve just made arrangements for one of my friends (who, for the purposes of this reflection will remain nameless!) to pop round to our flat tomorrow evening for dinner. Now, this friend has a very senior and important job and works phenomenally hard. As a consequence, his movements can be a little unpredictable. There have been quite a few occasions when he has promised to arrive at a certain time, but then has been ridiculously late. I usually take his promised arrival time with a pinch of salt and sometimes, when he doesn’t arrive on time, I’m not ready: the sitting room may be untidied, or the dinner uncooked. I suppose if I was a better host I would ensure I was completely ready for my friend’s arrival.
In today’s Bible verses, Jesus talks of servants being ready for their master when he returns from a wedding banquet. Good servants, I should imagine, are always poised for the return of the master, ready to open the front door to him as soon as he arrives. I can’t imagine good servants having to scurry around doing last minute tidying as their master knocks!
Of course, Jesus is teaching his disciples through a parable here. He is the master, they are the servants, and the wedding banquet is heaven. Jesus makes clear that, after his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, he will return. He tells them that when he does return, they must be ready for him. They must look out for his return at all times, even in the dark of night. They must ensure that they are constantly aware that one day he will return, and they must wait expectantly.
This message is one of great hope for us, but there is also a warning. Jesus will return. He will come back and lead all those who have accepted him as Saviour to the great wedding feast. But he also warns that we must be ready for him. We must live lives worthy of him, and strive to be Godly in all that we do.