You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
Peter said, “Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied,
“Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward, whom the master sets over his other servants,
to give them wheat at the proper time. Fortunate is this servant if his master, on coming home,
finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.
But it may be that the steward thinks, ‘My Lord delays in coming,’ and he begins to abuse the
male servants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master
will come on a day he does not expect, and at an hour he doesn’t know. He will cut him off,
and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful. The servant who knew his master’s will, but
did not prepare and do what his master wanted, will be soundly beaten; but the one who
does unconsciously what deserves punishment, shall receive fewer blows. Much will be
required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one who has
been entrusted with more.
Reflect
“Be a wise and faithful steward.” Today’s Gospel passage is found in Luke 12 (vv. 35-48),
which tells of vigilance proper to the disciples of Jesus. The Gospel passage tells of the
reality of Parousia as understood by Luke. The Son of Man will be coming again at an
hour when no one expects it. Therefore, Jesus’ disciples must always be prepared. Having
said this, the reality of the Parousia becomes intricately connected to the everyday life of
the followers of Jesus. Every disciple is called to be a wise and faithful steward. As wise
and faithful stewards, we are to keep our Christian identity while also caring for our common
home. Being wise, we must be discerning between the things that can keep or destroy our
Christian identity while also discerning what can keep or destroy our common home. We
need to remember that much is required of us because we are Christians. And because
we are Christians, we are summoned to care for the natural environment. We are
challenged to exercise a good sense of stewardship toward our common home.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2024
