Luke 21:34-36 NRSVue
34“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
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Reflection on Luke 21:34-36
Inspiration from 2025-11-29 Daily Prayer
The great danger of a trap is the suddenness with which it closes on its victims. Again and again, the gospels urge us to ‘Watch and pray!’ so that we are not caught unawares. The early Fathers of the Church taught the ideal of living in a continuous state of prayerfulness. We pray to grow in our prayer life so that our whole life becomes a prayer. Only with God’s help can this come about. Let us pray also to Mary, the Mother of God, to aid us in this and to intercede for us.
Further reflection
Is there something that weighs down my heart? Dissipation, drunkenness, the worries of this life, or is there something else?
How do I feel about the day of the Lord? Do I live with fear of being caught out? Am I looking forward to meeting him?
Is my praying now a preparation to meet the Son of Man with confidence?
That's a curious phrase but it fits: /weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness./ Drink is a narcotic; it does in fact dull the heart and blunt the appetites. As for dissipation, while it may be sold as fun and having a laugh, on the morning after most would agree with Nietzsche that /the mother of dissipation is not joy but joylessness./ Joy and moderation go hand in hand. When our hearts are happy, our own skins are a good place to be; we do not need to be blown out of our minds by alcohol or other drugs.
The cares of life can lead us to God or away from God. We can look to alcohol and other escapes to help us cope with what is difficult in life. God's strength is near for us all the time; prayer puts us in touch with the strong love of God, giving support and courage in difficulty.