“Jesus said to his disciples, “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home . . . . . . . . . . . . If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!”
Excerpts, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 22nd October 2024 – LUKE 12:35-38.
So, the phrase, “Gird your loins” could be roughly interpreted to mean, “Prepare oneself for something difficult or challenging.”
Going further to break each word down, the word LOIN(S) in in simple explanation means, “The part of the body on both sides of the spine between the lowest ribs and the hip bones.”
Literally putting it, the loin is the region of the sexual organs regarded as the source of erotic or procreative power.
Whereas the word gird simply means, to fasten, tighten or belt up.
Therefore, simply put, to gird ones loins is to wear a pair of trousers and eaten the belt.
In today’s teaching, we are being informed to stand ready at all times. This is akin to the motto of the Boys Scout – “Always be prepared.”
Dear friend, today, it is Christ Jesus Himself who is telling us that, “If you snooze, you lose.”
The core of today’s teaching prepares us to be ready at all times for our final departure from this world.
While no one feels that they’re too old to die, no body is also too young to die. Once anyone has been born alive, they’re already old enough to also die.
We mustn’t get this twisted, Christ isn’t saying we should abandon our life works and go and hurdle up in the church awaiting our final whistle.
Far from that, as it is not so at all.
Virtually, our everyday life is our final preparation.
If we are fond of beating traffic lights, insulting other motorists who dare to call us to order and stopping our vehicles at disruptive positions that inhibit the free flow of traffic, if we do not desist from such destructive attitudes, we may meet with our end one day while in the thick of such everyday life.
Brothers that keep extra-marital affairs in the name of ‘side-chick’. We must know that those little girls have more stamina than you.
Moreover, while you expend energy at work trying to make a living, ,these little girls are resting and researching and imagining styles that they may perform with you.
Dear friend, while at it, when that little girl may be telling you to go harder and faster, your strength may fail you. And there your end may come.
Imagine the shame, embarrassment and trauma that your attitude would subject the people and the family whom you may leave behind. Just imagine!
None is however saying when one obeys traffic rules, one may not still meet with their end through road carnage.
Neither is it that performing usual conjugal rites with one’s wife may not lead to a sudden end.
My dear fiend, we must at all times try our best to do the right thing at the right time without ceasing. This is the perfect example of girding our loins and keeping our lamps burning. This is our perfect preparation.
Saint JohnPaul once said, “It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives.” – We must therefore seek Jesus at all times, as our weakness may overpower our strengths.
Remember, God is more persuaded by our deliberate positive efforts to become better.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_JOHNPAUL! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
22nd Oct. 2024.