Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
Reflection
When I was a child I was a “latchkey” kid. My dad traveled a lot and my mom would be at work so my sister and I came home to an empty house. We were expected to do our homework and do chores around the house. We were NOT to go out and play, where it wasn’t safe because she wasn’t home to keep an eye on us. When my mom came home in the evening she would expect the work to be completed. Well, we were children. What do you think we did? We went out and played, came inside ½ hour before she came home, quickly did our chores and sat down to do homework.
But (yes, I know you can tell where this is going) the day came when she came home early and she found us outside playing. Were we faithful to our mom? Were we like the servants who rolled up their shirtsleeves and continued to work and were ready to greet her upon her arrival? Most days she thought so, but then she found that not to be true. Most days we thought we were faithful to our mom, ready to greet her, work finished, when she arrived home. But as the parable states, “should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way” blessed are those servants. She came home early and we were not prepared in the way she expected.
Today’s parable contains a lesson in faithfulness. Why is faithfulness so important to God? For one, it's the foundation for any lasting and meaningful relationship. Faithfulness allows us to persevere in living out an unswerving commitment. The Lord is committed to us in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity. That is what covenant means -- keeping one's word, promise, and commitment no matter how tough or difficult it gets. Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that he expects of us. Fortunately God gives the grace and strength to be faithful. He also rewards faithfulness.
Why is fidelity, commitment, and faithfulness so difficult today? Modern society seems to enjoy freedom over fidelity and doesn't want to be bound to an unknown or uncertain future. It's also inconvenient and a burden to the pursuit of one's own interests. We badly need to recover this virtue, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of the next generation as well. If we want to pass on the faith then we need to first be faithful models for our youth. If we are role models in faithfulness in all other pursuits, then we become more “believable” in our faithfulness to God.
Faithfulness demands consistency, a determination to stay the course, and hard work. The joy and privilege of being a son or daughter of God carries with it an awesome responsibility. The Lord expects us to make good use of the gifts and graces he gives to us. The more he gives, the more he requires. The temptation while the Master is away is to put off for later what we know the Master expects us to do now!
Are you faithful to God and ready to give him an account of your stewardship?
Prayer
"Lord, you are faithful even when I fail. Help me to remain ever faithful to you and to not shrink back when I encounter difficulties. May I always live in your presence and be ready to meet you when you call me on the Day of Judgment."
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