There once lived a man in ancient Spain named Leonardo. His days were as busy as anyone’s today. One day his shop was overflowing with customers when a good friend dropped by and said, “I have good news!” Leonardo dropped a heavy bundle he was carrying and replied, “It better be important. The store is mobbed, and I have no time to chat.”
His friend said, “It is important. You once told me that you have a burning question within your heart. One you have never shared with anyone.” Leonardo answered, “That is true. There is no one to answer it with wisdom.” Leonardo’s friend told him that he had just heard of a man considered a living saint who lived near the coast. The friend was confident that this man could answer whatever questions Leonardo had for him.
Leonardo had a strong feeling that this man could perhaps answer his question. He looked out his shop door, ignoring his many customers. The moment had finally come. He gently pushed his astonished customers out the door, explaining that an emergency had arisen, and he would have to close the shop indefinitely. He asked them to come back another time.
Immediately Leonardo headed out with staff in hand. Throughout the long journey, through fields and mountains, the question burned more deeply into his heart. At last, he found himself at the door of the saintly man’s seaside hut. When the door swung open, a small elderly man stood smiling, saying, “Good morning! Come in and have some tea....” But Leonardo said right away, “I have one question to ask of you, and I won’t budge until it’s answered. The saintly man leaned against the doorpost and waited. Leonardo asked, “If you had one day to live - just one day - how would you spend it?”
The old man stroked his white beard and thought for a moment. “Well,” he said, “first I might say my morning prayer... Afterward, I might fix a little tea and go down to weed my garden. Of course, I might go down the road to visit my neighbor Juan, since his arthritis bothers him this time of year...”
The old man paused to watch some seagulls dive into the nearby waves.
“Then,” he continued, “I might have a bite of lunch... or perhaps take a nap...”
Leonardo interrupted the man saying, “Wait a minute. That’s how you live every day.” There was silence as another seagull plunged into the water. “Of course,” the old man smiled, “Why would I live my last day any differently?”
Jesus tells us in our parable today that we must be prepared for the Kingdom of God, lest we be locked out because we have forgotten to prepare ourselves properly. Jesus’ parable and the story of Leonardo teach us an important lesson very simply and explicitly:
We must be prepared to enter the Kingdom of God. Our preparation is not simply a list of tasks to be performed or a list of requirements that need to be fulfilled by a particular point in time. Instead, our preparation is a way of life to be continuously lived.
As long as we put our relationship with God and our answer to God’s call to love on a list of things to do, we will fail to allow God’s love to transform our hearts and our lives.
Our last day on earth should be filled with expressions of love and concern for others, with acts of love for the needy, with praise and thanksgiving for God. Our last day on earth should be like all other days of our life. Why would we want to do it any differently?+
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