Exult, you just, in the Lord.

This Sunday's readings all point to being people who are ready to follow after God when the moment arises to do so. In the second reading, the Letter to the Hebrews speaks about Abraham's actions of faith, from his leaving his native land to go to a land God was leading him, to his faith that God would give him a son. Abraham's acts of faith led to good things for him, and ultimately built up the people from which the savior, Jesus, came from.

The first reading then reminds us of the story of the Passover, when the Israelite people waited in faith for God to do what he said he would do, keeping them safe in the midst of the final plague in Egypt. Through this moment of faith in God's protection and desire to set them free, the people of Israel were indeed led into freedom by Moses.

All of this points to the reality of faith in God, of course. But it also points to the need to be people who are righteous and just, who not only trust in the Lord but also follow his commands. Both Abraham and, later, the Israelite people waited on the Lord while also following his commands, and so they were ready to respond when God acted. Jesus, in the Gospel for this Sunday, exhorts us to do the same when he says, "be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks." In the same way as these servants, we are encouraged to be just, to be righteous, to live in a manner where, if the master were to return today, we would have no reason to worry because we would be ready to respond.

So, as we move forward this week with all of these examples of faith put before us, let us pray that we too may be men and women of justice and righteousness! May our lives reflect the goodness of the God that we follow. And may our faith grow each day in the God who keeps his promises so that we may be ready to respond when God acts in our lives.

Want to prepare your heart and mind for Mass this weekend? Click here to find the readings this Sunday's Mass.