Vigilant and faithful servants

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.”

REFLECTION THE FAITHFUL AND PRUDENT STEWARD. Jesus gives a rhetorical response to Peter’s question, and then relates a parable about a steward who is given the charge to look after the master’s servants while the master is away. The Gospel presents two kinds of steward: one who takes good care of his master’s property and goods, distributing food to the master’s servants at the proper time; the other who neglects his duty and abuses his position by beating his fellow servants and eating and getting drunk. The appointed steward is also a servant. This steward is blessed if the master will find him at work when he arrives. The vigilant and faithful servant will be rewarded — he will be blessed and given charge of all the master’s possessions. In serving his fellow servants, the steward is eventually serving his master. The faithful and prudent steward is one who is ready for service and performs his duties responsibly. We are all called to be faithful and prudent stewards of God’s creation and of the talents God has given us. Above all, we have to take care of our bodies for we are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Faithfulness to God starts with little things and simple acts of kindness to our fellow human beings.