Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be…
"Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them…
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. (Lk 12:32-48)
Kingdom is a gift from God. He is pleased to give it. Kingdom is not given in exchange for any of our activities. But anyone who receives this gift is obliged, by the gift itself, to activities that will in turn build up treasures in heaven. The gift (kingdom) obliges us to sell all what we have and give them to the poor. The gift (kingdom) obliges us to store up treasure in heaven. So the gift is important.
“Gird your loins and light your lamps” reminds us to be ready and watchful. Like the kingdom which is a gift given freely; so also the arrival of the master (Lord of the kingdom) will happen unexpectedly. No one knows the time and the hour. It could happen at any watch of the night. People should wait for his arrival but should be ready and watchful.
Gift given is not to waste the gift. Whatever is entrusted is demanded later. Whatever is given is to be accounted for and to be transparent about. Because the lord says that much will be required (accountability) and more will be demanded (transparency). Yes, every gift is obliging.
