Homily: “Faithful, Ready, and Catholic”

Brothers and sisters,

Today Jesus tells us plainly: “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit… You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

This is not poetic exaggeration. The day will come — perhaps without warning — when we will stand before Him. And in that moment, the only thing that will matter is the state of your soul.

Our readings today give us a pattern.

In Wisdom, we hear of God’s people waiting in faith on the night of the Passover — ready to move when He acted.

In Hebrews, we hear how Abraham obeyed God’s command without knowing where it would lead — trusting in God’s promise more than in his own understanding.

Faith in Scripture is never just belief in the mind — it is obedience in the heart and action in life. Faith is not vague optimism.

Faith is a supernatural virtue given at baptism. But it’s not a static possession. It must grow through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of charity — or it will wither.  It is faith that clings to God’s Word, trusts His Church, and obeys His commands.

Faith makes us pilgrims. This world is not our final home. Like Abraham, we live in our modern tents — temporary dwellings — because our true homeland is heaven.

In the Gospel, Jesus paints the picture of servants with their belts fastened and lamps burning. In biblical times, to “gird your loins” meant to tuck up your long robe so you could move quickly — you were ready to work or to travel.

Spiritually, it means living in such a way that you are ready to move when the Lord calls — whether that is to an unexpected act of charity, a sudden sacrifice, or even the moment of death.

And the lamps? In Catholic tradition, the lamp often represents the light of faith, nourished by the oil of charity. Without charity, faith dies out. Without faith, charity has no direction.

The Church gives us the saints not as museum pieces, but as living models of readiness.

St. Dominic, whose memorial we kept this week, lived with the Gospel on his lips and in his heart. He founded the Order of Preachers so that the truth of Christ would always be proclaimed — because he knew souls were at stake.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose memorial comes this week, was prepared to give his life long before he stepped forward in Auschwitz to die in another man’s place. His whole life had been a “yes” to Christ — so when the moment came, there was no hesitation.

St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests, spent hours each day in the confessional because he wanted his people ready for heaven. He said, “The soul that is in the state of grace is all beautiful before God, the Three Persons gaze upon it with love.”

The saints lived what today’s Gospel demands: lamps burning, loins girded, eyes fixed on the Lord.

Jesus’ warning is especially pointed for us who are Catholic.

Why? Because we have been given so much:

• The fullness of revealed truth in Scripture and Tradition.
• The teaching authority of the Church to guide us without error in matters of faith and morals.
• The seven sacraments — visible channels of invisible grace.
• The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
• The communion of saints to intercede for us.
• The Motherhood of Mary to protect and guide us.

We are not in the dark. We have every grace we need to be ready.

And as Jesus says: “From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required.”

To be ready does not mean to be sinless or to have our life perfectly organised. It means to be in a state of grace, living as disciples of Christ.

That means:

• Regular Confession, to keep the soul clean.
• Frequent Communion, received with devotion.
• Daily prayer, even if it’s short but sincere.
• Charity in action, so that faith bears fruit.
• Detachment from possessions, so we can leave everything behind without regret.
• Obedience to Christ and His Church, even when it costs.

Readiness is not an emotional high — it is steady faithfulness.

The unfaithful servant in the Gospel says: “My master is delayed.”

It is easy to think: “I’ll get serious about my faith later… after the summer… after I’m retired… when life slows down.” This is the danger of presumption — thinking we can put off conversion until tomorrow.

But later may never come. Death rarely gives advance notice.

St. Augustine put it bluntly: “God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.”

Look at St. Teresa of Calcutta. She didn’t wait for “big moments.” Her readiness was in doing small things with great love every day.

Or Blessed Carlo Acutis, a teenager who centered his life around the Eucharist. He died at 15, but he was ready — because he lived as though Jesus was real and heaven was near.

The saints prove that readiness is possible in every age and every circumstance — if we live each day as a gift, and eternity as a certainty.

The Church, in her wisdom, calls us to live each day as if it could be our last — not in panic, but in peace. If you are in friendship with Christ today, then you are ready for Him whenever He comes.

For us, that call to holiness might mean:

• Letting go of sin we’ve grown comfortable with.
• Giving up excuses for why we can’t pray, serve, or forgive.
• Trusting God with our future even when it’s uncertain.

Readiness has three marks in Catholic life:

• Faith in what the Church teaches – No picking and choosing.
• Hope rooted in the promises of God – No despair, no presumption.
• Charity lived out in obedience – Not just sentiment, but holiness.

The master is coming — for each of us — at an hour we do not expect.

We have been entrusted with the truth, the sacraments, and the hope of glory. Let’s live as though we believe it.

So I ask you plainly:
If the Master came tonight —
and stood at your door —
would He find you ready?

Ready not only in Catholic name, but in Catholic faithfulness.

Ready with a lamp blazing, not a heart growing cold.

Ready with a soul alert, not lulled to sleep by comfort.

Ready not empty-handed, but holding the treasure that endures to eternal life.