Are you ready for the Thief in the night?

The bible is filled with metaphors and parables, but the one that resonates me is being prepared for the thief in the night. First, I’ve been a victim of theft and the parable’s warning is all too easy to imagine. Second, being prepared requires a healthy long term view. We need to recognize that our rewards will not be immediate. That what we are striving for will not bare fruit for maybe years if not decades. The thief in the night is a warning that every day is our chance to grow closer to God.

The passage can be found in Matthew 24:42-44: Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

The thief arrives when we least expect it and when we are at our most vulnerable. The message of watchfulness and patience is a reminder for us to persevere during our lowest moments. Of course, if we were told a thief would come, then we would act differently. We would be prepared for that particular moment in anticipation of that arrival. However, rarely do thieves schedule their arrival. Therefore, we must be on a constant vigilance. No, we will not be a victim of a thief everyday, but the day that we are we want to be prepared.

This paradoxical mentality is perfect for the Average Catholic. So often, we are tempted and weakened by the weight of existence. We are toiling on this Earth working towards the kingdom, and every so often we think, “maybe today we don’t have to toil.” That temptation of reprieve is the same temptation a guard may think “Maybe if I just shut my eyes for a few moments.” Oblivious to the fact that the thief is waiting for that very moment of weakness.

This begs the question, must we live in a state of constant vigilance? That sounds anxiety ridden and impossible. Of course, we need God’s grace to carry us onwards. We ourselves cannot do it ourselves. But perhaps we are misunderstanding what preparation means. It is not actively using our wills to choose every single thought word and deed. That would be a breeding ground for scrupulosity. Instead, preparation means that we have built up the habits and virtues well in advance of needing them.

Let us change the thief into a metaphor. The thief is any challenge presented to us that requires preparation. A simple one is if someone challenges you to do a back flip. If you have never done a back flip, then odds are that you will not succeed. But if you put in the time and training to perform well in advance then you will when the occasion rises. The same goes for karaoke, playing an instrument, any physical challenge, knowing a language, and even trivia night. All of these can be thieves in the night. Never did we know these specific challenges will appear, but through our own pursuit of hobbies, interests, and general excellence we were prepared when the challenge eventually arrived.

I have been guilty of being both physically in shape and out of shape. I pray often for a gift of fortitude and perseverance, because I am usually good at setting goals and achieving them, but rarely do I sustain the same level of excellence after the goal has been accomplished. I have trained for a Tough Mudder, been able to bench my weight, and ran a mile in under seven minutes. Regardless, the goal was achieved and I would stagnate then decline. In the words of the parable, I was told when the thief would arrive, i would prepare, then deal with the thief, and inevitably dissolve into listlessness.

“For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:2

When it comes to my faith journey, I have had cycles of zeal and luke-warmness. It is a tempting fantasy to imagine the person I would have become if I stuck to whatever regiment I deemed made me the most holy. I would imagine the hours wasted on screens or sin be converted to hours spent studying, practicing, or refining my skills/knowledge. This fantasy is also a type of pride. The fantasy is a precursor for a potential punishment in purgatory where we are shown our life if we truly trusted in the Lord. An idea that should be daunting to say the least.

But it is a prideful imagining of a potential “holy” self because it gives an excuse to not pursue that excellence. The devil tells us, “you have already squandered your opportunities and time, why would starting now be any different.” Are response must be as Catholics is, “No devil, I must prepare for my master’s arrival.” Whatever failings we have committed, sins we still are attached to, or prayer we struggle to enjoy; we must work our faith out with “fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

It is tempting to go to mass, listen to a podcast, read the bible, and do devotions and think, “I have done enough.” I am plagued with that thought. There are times in my life when desolation or the temptation to sin is at its strongest. I might as well be a guard who fell asleep. Too often, the finite sin has been more appealing the infinite goodness of following God’s commandments. Those moments of weakness almost always are preceded by my own failure to keep my prayer routines or ward against sinful temptations. I am grateful for my community of friends and coworkers who keep me accountable. They are able to remind me that I too can be a victim of the thief and must be constantly watchful from shirking my duties.

Be watchful for the coming of the thief. Expose yourself to good influences. Train your mind and body to resist temptation and turn to the Lord. Remove the eye or hand that leads you to sin. If following God’s commandments is an acquired taste, then work hard in making following the commandments more desirable. Our true character is formed by our daily actions, but our daily actions can always change for the better or for the worse. Stay watchful and work towards virtue and excellence. God willing we will become trustworthy in the eyes of the Lord.

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.

James 1:12-16