"Be ready, dressed for service, and keep your lamps lit, like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding. As soon as he comes and knocks, they will open the door to him. Happy are those servants whom the master finds wide-awake when he comes. Truly, I tell you, he will put, he will put on an apron, and have them sit at table, and he will wait on them. Happy are those servants, if he finds them awake when he comes at midnight or daybreak!
'Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. 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." - Luke 12:35-48
(JESUS develops the parable of the servant expecting his master's return. This servant is here contrasted with the rich who was only concerned about a long and comfortable life. The servant works for GOD.
Happy are those servants whom the master finds wide-awake. Wide-awake, that is, concerned about tomorrow's world. Wide-awake also means being aware of the truth; we do not consent to call 'good' evil, and 'evil' good; we do not forgive ourselves for allowing evil and we are not intimidated before injustice.
The Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect. We would not think that this refers only to the day of death, nor should we be afraid of GOD's judgment if we live in HIS grace. JESUS tells us about the master returning from the wedding, who is so happy that he reverses the usual order and begins to serve his servants. If we have been serving GOD for years, how could we not reach another phase of spiritual life in which it would seem that GOD is concerned only in giving and feasting with us?
Peter said: This new paragraph is aimed at those who hold responsible positions in the Church.
My LORD delays in coming. Those in responsible positions may betray their mission. More often, they make the mistake of seeing only to the good functioning of the institution and they forget that CHRIST is coming.
GOD comes all the time through events that, unexpectedly, ruin our plans. Therefore, the Church must not rely too much on planning its activity: who knows what GOD has in store for us tomorrow? Instead, the Church should see to its prayer and its availability so that the LORD will let her be in the best situation when HE shakes up our little universe.
Be awake to admire, rejoice in and discover the presence of GOD and HIS blessings that enlighten our lives.)
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