The underlying message of this week’s readings instructed us, followers of Jesus, to essentially always be prepared to encounter God’s presence for we do not know the day when God will come down for us. In the Gospel acclamation verse from Matthew, it tells us to “stay awake and be ready, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

Hearing this message made me think about those around me in my own life, questioning if we are doing enough to stay ready for God’s presence. Being ready for God’s coming doesn’t mean making up your bed, doing the dishes, or making sure your place is nice and tidy. God might appreciate those things if you believe that He has a sense of humor, which I do. To truly be ready however, requires more than physical readiness but readiness of the mind and most importantly the soul.

I began to ask myself, how ready am? I say that I am because of what I know and do on the surface. Each morning I thank God for the new day He has given me, I try my best to stay connected with Him throughout the day and remember that all things are possible because of Him. I also try to attend Mass weekly, but this can be a struggle for me as I sometimes let life get in the way. Looking deeper into my own life beyond what is visible on the surface, I know that my soul may need healing and more preparation than I have given it.

My family, peers and I are not perfect, but we can be ready without being perfect. I believe that this week’s readings were intended to be a wake-up call or a reminder for some. If you’re not ready, now’s the time to start preparing because you don’t want the time to come and be caught off guard.