With God, We Have Everything

Reflection on Lk. 12:39-48

After stressing the need to be vigilant, the Lord continued with the price of vigilance or non-vigilance. This just means that we can not take for granted the command of the Lord to anticipate His coming actively. We can not just sit down and wait for Him to come. We have so much to do and the measure of what we have done or not done will result to a consequence.

This is very clear in the Gospel today. Apparently, there are levels of rewards and punishment. Those who know the Will of God but did not do them will suffer severely. Those who did not know but still acted worthy of a severe punishment will be given lighter punishments. But those who prepared, acted on God's Will, and were responsible will be fully rewarded. These are good incentives and just arrangements. These must be the minima in order that we will not be caught red-handed or surprised come judgment day. It is really a reflection and proof of God's everlasting love. He does not want us to be left outside the Kingdom. If threatening us would be effective in making us vigilant, then so be it.

But this is not the best way, or the maximum. We must be vigilant not because we are afraid of the punishment or we want the reward. Our relationship with God must rise to the level of a loving relationship. This means that our love for Him is not based on reward. Our following His Will is not based on the graces we will be worthy of. Our preparations are not dependent on the punishment or good consequences we will receive. The best servant does not work because of the reward. The best servant sees his service to His master as its own reward. This is how we must see our relationship with God. Being vigilant only for the sake of avoiding punishment does not merit us fullness of life. It is merited by an honest and pure love of God regardless of consequences.

This is very tangible in everyday life. Children relate to their parents based on rewards and punishment. But parents do not want their children to remain in that situation. The aim of parents is to let them graduate from that kind of attitude in the relationship. Parents hope that they will be obeyed not because of what they will give but because children would see the reminders and commands they give as expressions of their love for their children. Parents pray that their children would see their presence as companionship and guardianship and not like the police or detectives waiting for them to commit mistakes and later catch and punish them. Parents wish that children would see that heeding them is a good life in itself. in other words, we must not just be contented with the graces God will give but God Himself who is Grace! When we have God, we have everything. 

Jesus saw that we can begin with being afraid of the bad consequences of being lax and not vigilant. If it will make us be aware of what we will lose, then it is good enough. Jesus also saw that we can be inspired by receiving good rewards. If these rewards will keep us back in the right track, then so be it. But Jesus also hopes that our acts would not be based on rewards and punishments but on having a good relationship with God. To be united with Him is the best situation for us. In that situation, every act is inspired not by any punishment or reward but by the experience of God's presence.