August 31, 2017

Gospel: Mt 24:42-51
Stay awake then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Obviously, if the owner of the house knew at what time the thief was coming, he would certainly stay up and not allow his house to be broken into. So be alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour you least expect.
Imagine a faithful and prudent servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time. Fortunate, indeed, is that servant, whom his master will find at work when he comes. Truly I say to you, his lord will entrust him with everything he has.
Not so with the bad servant, who thinks, ‘My master is delayed.’ And he begins to ill-treat his fellow servants, while eating and drinking with drunkards. But his master will come on the day he does not know, and at the hour he least expects. He will punish that servant severely; and place with him with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

REFLECTION:
It is often said that the purpose of our earthly life is to prepare for the next one beyond the grave. But how many of us really take that seriously? More often than not we live our lives as though this was the only one we will ever have. Jesus reminds us once more that a day of judgement will certainly come and we will all have to render an accounting of our stewardship. We better be ever-ready and vigilant because “the Son of Man is coming at the time you least expect.” Preparedness for the coming of the Lord as judge will conquer all our fears especially that of being taken by surprise. The best way to prepare for that coming is to obediently do His Will. When we are busy being about the Father’s business we can hope to be blessed by Him when He returns.
There is a stern warning directed to the “worthless servants” who abuse the authority entrusted to them. A severe punishment awaits those who use the power entrusted to them for their personal agenda. They will end up “wailing” and “grinding their teeth.” The “wailing” is expressive of the pain of their loss of heaven. The “grinding of teeth” is indicative of their disappointment of seeing others in the kingdom while they themselves are excluded.