GOSPEL
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
‘Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service, and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.’
It is a call to place our trust in God the Father, to rest our worries in Him, and to shift the centre of our lives from our own heart to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
He invites us to live with responsible love towards the spouse blessed by Christ, echoing His words: “Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.” It is worth asking myself: if the Lord came today, would He call me blessed for the way I am caring for the love I give my spouse—faithfully, in action, in thought, and by avoiding sins of omission—and prudently, always seeking what pleases them and the Lord?
The Gospel calls us to live in constant vigilance: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching when he comes.” Am I constantly seeking my spouse’s holiness? Do I guard my actions so as not to lead them into sin? And if my spouse does sin, do I give myself for them as Christ gave Himself for His Bride, the Church?
Applied to Married Life
Kevin: Mary, you know I’ve barely got any time. I need to finish these orders so we can earn the money for the car—you know it’s broken down.
Mary: How about we pray about it tonight before answering them?
Kevin: Good idea, Mary—that way I won’t just act on my first impulse.
(That night, during their couple’s prayer…)
Kevin: Mary, in today’s Gospel the Lord is calling me to trust Him more, and to let His will guide me rather than my own self-interest. If the Lord has given me this gift, how could I withhold it? And remember what the Gospel said: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” So, if you also think it’s right, I’ll go and help them over the next few days.
Kevin: Thank you, Mary, for helping us to stay in the truth by persevering in our couple’s prayer. I feel that every time we pray together, we grow closer to Christ.
Mother,
Thank you for carrying us in your Immaculate Heart to the Sacred Heart of your Son, keeping us both trusting and watchful. Blessed and praised be the Sacred Heart of Jesus!