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. 40You 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, 46then 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.”
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The master is happy to give more responsibility to his servant who does what is expected of him. It means the servant is reliable. He can be trusted. He is focused on his work. He has a good attitude towards his fellow servants. He takes care of them in the absence of his employer. Thus, upon his return, the master finds everything in order.
On the other hand, if the servant is irresponsible, he will earn the ire of his master when he suddenly comes back. The master will sense something is not right. His fellow workers are complaining. They are getting sick because he does not give them their food allowance. Things get lost or are deteriorated for lack of proper maintenance. This unfaithful and imprudent servant will face stiff punishment. He will be beaten severely. He will be shamed in front of the other servants.
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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.
