The Word of God
‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’
Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- ‘There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom’. I let myself hear Jesus encouraging me and the Christian community I belong to. So often we dwell on the fact that we are a diminishing group, seemingly putting our security in numbers, so that we end up feeling discouraged and even frightened. The first disciples were even fewer than we are, but they put their trust in the consoling presence of Jesus and his word. I pray for the gift of hope, for the ability to be sensitive to the signs of the Father’s promise in my life.
- Once more, Jesus reminds us to be watchful, making sure we are awake when the master comes. I ask for his help not to live a distracted life, so that when Jesus comes into my life, in a way and at a time I do not expect, through events and persons, he finds me ready to welcome him. I look at my day so far, at yesterday, and see how aware I have been of God’s coming into my life, in so many ways. I ask for the grace not to be deaf to his call, and always ready to respond to the best of my ability.