Surprise!

October 23, 2018

If you really knew me you would know that I love surprise parties. I love throwing them, I love participating in them, and I love receiving them. The thing that touches me the most about surprise parties is the thoughtfulness behind them. I mean you have to really know the person well in order to invite their closest friends and family, to know their typical schedule so as to plan the perfect scenario, to find the right venue, etc. And of course, timing is everything, not to mention the elaborate “fake out” that must take place for weeks or months before hand, and most importantly the day of the party. So much planning and scheming goes into every surprise party. Anticipation, waiting, and then the famous “shushing”: “Shhhhhh! They’re coming! Everyone hide!” All this coordinating touches my heart because it requires thoughtfulness, but most importantly love for the person you are hoping to surprise. I just came off of a retreat weekend where we threw about 5 different surprise parties for the people on retreat and all of the thoughtfulness mentioned above truly overwhelmed the recipients with all kinds of warm and fuzziness! I love surprise parties. 

Everyone knows that one cannot be late for a surprise party or it ruins the whole thing right? Timing is everything and that is the theme of today’s gospel. We need to be ready to receive Jesus at all times. He shows up to the party in all kinds of unexpected ways and if we are not ready then we will miss the opportunity to serve him. We need thoughtful planning in order to anticipate his presence. We need to know him intimately so that we can invite his friends and family to the party. We need to understand his whereabouts and his workings to be able to meet him when he arrives on the scene. We need to “shush” ourselves often to hear when he is coming or when he speaks to us. And finally in true guest of honor protocol, we need to serve him, fawn over him, celebrate him, bring him gifts, and make sure that his every wish comes true. It is so much fun to cater to our loved ones in a surprise party situation isn’t it? We love love love “pulling it off” and making it all about them. 

I encourage each of us to extra thoughtfulness today. Look for Jesus throughout your day and be ready to receive him in whatever capacity he shows up. If you find yourself distracted, remember, “Shhhhhh! He’s coming!” Cater to him by loving his friends and family. Celebrate his life and make today all about him. If we pull this off, I think it is we who will be pleasantly surprised by the warm and fuzziness that comes with serving him, and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 2:12-22

Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God, 
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm PS 85:9AB-10, 11-12, 13-14

R. (see 9) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

Alleluia LK 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“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.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”