LUKE 12:35–38 KEEP YOUR LAMPS BURNING 

Tuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Have you ever waited, for someone you love to come home? Perhaps you keep checking the time, listening for the sound of the door, or looking out the window. You do these things because that person matters to you. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to live with that same kind of readiness—not out of fear, but out of love. He tells us to keep our lamps burning because we do not know when the Lord will come. The beautiful surprise is that when the master finds his servants ready, he does something unexpected: he seats them at the table and serves them himself. Our God is not simply someone we wait for; He is the Lord who longs to welcome us and care for us.

I sometimes wonder how often we miss the Lord because we expect Him to come in extraordinary ways. We look for Him in miracles and great moments, but He may be coming to us through someone who needs our patience, a family member who needs our attention, or a person who is quietly carrying a heavy burden. We may be so busy with our own worries that we fail to recognize Him. Keeping our lamps burning means making room for Jesus in the middle of our ordinary day—in our conversations, our choices, our work, and the way we treat one another.

Let me ask you, as I ask myself: If Jesus came into my life today, would He find a heart ready to welcome Him? Not a perfect heart, but a willing one. We may not be able to change everything about our lives today, but we can take one small step: forgive someone, reach out to someone who is lonely, spend a few quiet moments with God, or offer kindness when it is difficult. We cannot choose when the Lord will come, but we can choose to make room for Him today.

With Love and Prayers

Your Co-Traveler