Semper Paratus

Semper Paratus: Reflection on Luke 12:32-40

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Besides helpful hints on water safety, we can learn a vital lesson from the U.S. Coast Guard. Their motto is “Semper Paratus.” But “Always Ready” is more than their motto; it is their way of life. And it has served them well through two centuries of hurricanes and shipwrecks, floods and wars. Living with the certain knowledge that potential peril is always looming can either paralyze or empower. Being always ready makes threats manageable. It empowers the Coast Guard to meet the inevitable with courage and competence. And that is Christ’s message to us in this week’s gospel: Semper Paratus… be Ready Always.