Are you faithful are you to God's Word?
Constant vigilance!
Though we may recognize this first as a refrain used by Mad Eye Moody in
the Harry Potter series, the exhortation does serve as a useful touchstone for this Sunday's
readings. Writing about the disintegration of the
Persian Empire, the prophet Daniel exhorts the people to remain faithful,
constant, vigilant in their relationship with the Lord. Unlike those who will be an everlasting horror and disgrace, Daniel notes, the wise shall shine brightly; their
lives have been an ongoing preparation for that which is to come. Psalm 16 similarly presents a man who desires
to remain faithful to the covenant with God, faithful to relationship, constantly
aware of God's presence in his life: I set the Lord ever before me, he
says. Even in the midst of difficulty
and suffering, his soul rejoices and
his body abides in confidence, for he
knows the Lord will be with him, so long as he is faithful to God.
Jesus, in Mark's Gospel, offers a similar message: the people, he says, will be confronted with
trials, and the world will be turned upside-down -- yet of that day or hour no one knows.
What to do? Constant
vigilance! If we believe, as Jesus says,
that his words will not pass away,
then our greatest security is to be faithful to his teachings, to live our
lives as a constant preparation for fulfillment of the covenant, our
relationship with God. Jesus came so as
to offer one sacrifice for sins, the Letter
to the Hebrews tells us, a radical shift in the nature of covenant. Thanks to Jesus, it is forgiveness, rather than distress,
that defines our future: so long as we
hold fast to Jesus the Word, practicing constant vigilance, our salvation will
be eternal; it shall not pass away.
This post is based on Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
Image source: Wordle
