GIRD YOUR LOINS AND LIGHT YOUR LAMPS
19 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C August 11, 2013 GIRD YOUR LOINS AND LIGHT YOUR LAMPS When I was younger, I used to do a lot of climbs up mountains, both high or low. Fun climbs that lasted no more than a day didn’t take too much preparation. All one needed was a small rucksack, a day’s supply of personal water, some food to keep body and soul together for a day, and very light clothing. But things can get a little more complex when you set your sights to places higher. You need to analogically gird your loins and trim your lamps. You need a stove, or what climbers or campers refer to as a “cook set,” a sleeping bag, a tent, and a pair of good sturdy shoes, and don’t forget a set of clothes that would allow you to do what in our jargon, we also call, “layering,” as needed or as dictated by the fickle elements. But anyone who has climbed anything higher than his rooftop knows that beyond all these accouterments, equipment, or hi...