Our Gospel reading today from Luke 12:35-40 echoes with an urgency that cuts through the noise of our 21st-century lives: “Let your loins be girt and your lamps burning; and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks.”

As Dominicans, preachers of the Word and seekers of Truth, we are compelled to ask: How do these ancient words speak to us, here and now, in a world shaped by algorithms, instant gratification, and perpetual distraction?

“Let your loins be girt.” In an age where we are constantly “logged on” but often disengaged, this command takes on new meaning. To gird our loins today means to discipline our digital lives, to resist the constant pull of the ephemeral, the superficial, and the sensational. Are we so engrossed in endless scrolling, virtual worlds, and digital debates that we become spiritually flabby, unready for the real challenges and opportunities God places before us? Girding our loins means setting boundaries, cultivating silence, and intentionally seeking wisdom in a world saturated with information but starved for truth. It means being prepared for genuine engagement – with God, with our families, with our neighbors – rather than passively consuming.

“And your lamps burning.” What are our lamps today? They are our faith, hope, and charity, yes, but also our critical thinking in an era of misinformation, our compassion in a polarized society, and our courage to speak truth in a culture that often shies away from difficult conversations. Are our lamps burning brightly, fueled by prayer and study, so that we can discern truth from falsehood in a news cycle that often blurs the lines? Are they shining forth as beacons of Christ’s love in a world too often marked by division, cynicism, and despair? Or are our lamps dim, obscured by our own anxieties, consumerism, or simply the sheer overwhelming nature of modern life? A truly burning lamp in today’s world means being a source of light, not just passively absorbing it.

Jesus speaks of servants waiting for their master from a wedding feast. Consider our society’s obsession with instant gratification. We expect immediate responses, express delivery, and always-on connectivity. Yet, spiritual readiness is about patient vigilance, a sustained posture of expectation and faithful living, even when the “master seems delayed.” This patience is a profound counter-cultural virtue. It challenges the anxiety of always needing to be “doing something” and calls us to a deeper, more abiding presence to God’s ongoing work in the world.

And then, the stark warning: “But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour.” In our world, where threats can emerge from anywhere – be it a cybersecurity breach, a global pandemic, or a sudden economic downturn – we are acutely aware of vulnerability. Jesus’ warning isn’t about fearmongering; it’s a call to spiritual cybersecurity. It’s a reminder that we must not allow the “thief” of apathy, materialism, or spiritual complacency to break into our souls and rob us of the precious grace God offers.

So, for us, as Catholics living in this contemporary society, what does it mean to be “ready”?

It means being intentional in our faith, actively choosing Christ amidst a sea of competing ideologies and fleeting pleasures. It means using our intellects, sharpened by Dominican study, to engage with the pressing issues of our time – justice, charity, peace – not shying away from them, but bringing the light of the Gospel to bear.

It means fostering genuine community, resisting the isolation that digital life can foster, and truly being present to one another in our parishes, our families, and our neighborhoods. Our communal life becomes a witness to a world starved for authentic connection.

And above all, it means cultivating a deep prayer life that grounds us in the timeless truth of God’s love, enabling us to be vigilant and active, prepared for whatever God calls us to, knowing that ultimately, He will serve us at the eternal banquet.

Let us not be caught off guard. Let us not allow the distractions of this age to extinguish the flame of our faith. Instead, let us, with girt loins and brightly burning lamps, live lives of expectant vigilance, witnessing to the coming Kingdom, and radiating Christ’s light in every corner of our modern world.

Amen.