Gospel Reading: Lk 12:39-48
JESUS said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
FAITHFUL AND PRUDENT STEWARD
In Israel in Jesus’ time, “absentee landlords” entrust the running of their affairs to a steward or household manager (Greek oikodomos) who directs the affairs of other servants/slaves (Greek douloi), to see that they do their work and to provide for their needs. The vigilant and faithful oikodomos repays his master’s trust by his fidelity to him and by his proper care of his fellow servants.
Jesus gives this parable an eschatological perspective, in view of the judgment when he, as “Son of Man,” will return in glory. He cautions that his coming will be sudden and unexpected, like “a thief in the night.” He therefore asks for an attitude of watchfulness by means of attending to one’s duties with a sense of responsibility. But if the servant is “wicked,” he will take advantage of his master’s “delay” and begin to abuse his fellow servants and behave irresponsibly, eating and drinking in excess. The master will then come unexpectedly and punish him severely.
The parable calls especially the leaders of the community to do their work and help the members carry out their responsibilities.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
