Culture and Ideas · October 23, 2026
Christian Vigilance and Expectation
During that time, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning. Be like men who are waiting for their Lord to come back from a wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord finds awake when he comes” (Luke 12:35-38).
The speaker emphasizes a recurring figure in the Old Testament, that of the sentinel, the watchman: people of expectation who knew how to wait.
Waiting with confidence in the Lord is essential. In human relationships, there is a prudent law of not creating expectations to avoid frustration. However, the sentinel that Jesus speaks of waits for his Lord, not for any human reality.
This hope in the promises of the Lord must be present even during the most challenging times in life. The text mentions midnight and dawn, signifying not the usual times for vigils or prayers, because vigilance is a posture of righteousness.
The vigil is an invitation to readiness. The speaker shares a personal experience of frustration attending a vigil at St. Peter's Square in Rome, which ended early compared to vigils in Brazil. Vigilance is a posture of righteousness, waiting for Jesus, the bridegroom, who may visit us at various times in our lives. The most important thing is what is in the Gospel: we will be blessed if the Lord finds us ready for the encounter with Him. Regardless of when we meet Christ, we should wait for the Lord in vigilance and fidelity.
May the blessing of Almighty God descend upon all of you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!