‘Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their 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 wicked servant says to himself, “My master is delayed”, and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 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 hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Lord does not ask us to guess when He will come, but to let Him find us loving. It is a call to live in vigilance, faithfulness and responsibility, not out of fear, but out of love for the Lord who is coming. The best preparation for His coming is faithfulness in the little things: a kind word, a forgiveness offered, a service carried out with joy. To keep watch means not allowing routine, selfishness or comfort to cool our love, but remaining attentive to the needs of the other and open to God’s grace. In marriage, this vigilance does not consist in waiting for some extraordinary event, but in being attentive to the heart of our spouse. The Lord comes to meet us through the needs of the other: in a tiredness that calls for understanding, in a silence that hides a wound, in a request for help or in an opportunity to forgive. The “faithful and wise servant” is the husband or wife who never stops caring for the love they have received. It is the one who does not wait to feel inspired to serve, but has made service a way of life. Marital fidelity is built in everyday life, when no one notices and it seems that the effort goes unnoticed. We are in danger of thinking: “My master is taking a long time to come.” In the day-to-day life of marriage, this happens when we stop caring for the relationship because we think there will always be time to talk, ask for forgiveness, pray together or show affection. Little by little, routine, indifference and the pursuit of our own interests appear. The heart falls asleep and love loses its strength. Christ invites us today to remain awake. Every day is an opportunity to love as He loves. Every act of self-giving prepares our hearts for His coming and strengthens the marital union. The best way to wait for the Lord is to let Him find us loving one another, serving one another and walking together towards holiness.
Raúl: Just a moment, Mónica, I have to reply to a message on my phone and then we can talk for a while.
Mónica: You see, it seems that the phone is the most important thing, the best refuge for not wanting to see how we are becoming distant.
Raúl: You’re right, Mónica. I’ll put the phone away now. I have noticed it too, but I didn’t want to take the first step to try to resolve this difficult moment. I have let myself be carried away by my selfishness, even thinking that you hadn’t noticed.
Mónica: Don’t worry, I have also let myself be carried away and I haven’t done much to try to draw closer to you. I have taken refuge in work and, when I get home, the phone has also been a great excuse.
Raúl: This morning, when I had a little time to read today’s Gospel, it really struck me, and I realised that I had been waiting for you to take the first step for some time, because I was only looking at myself. I came home intending to change, and the first thing I did was put the phone between you and me.
Mónica: I also found a little time to pray with the Gospel and realised something similar to what you are telling me. Let’s begin: how was your day?
Raúl: You’re wonderful. How about we work together on the things that need doing around the house now, put the children to bed and then spend some time together, sharing what we have in our hearts and, while we’re at it, getting back to our time of prayer.
Mónica: I think that is the best way to start again. That way I can tell you everything I have been reflecting on in my heart for some time.
Raúl: I can’t wait for that moment. I have left you alone these past few days, and it is affecting me much more than it seems. I’ll start tidying the kitchen and preparing dinner.
Nothing spectacular happened. Simply, one of them decided to watch over their love instead of waiting for the other to take the first step. That was how the Lord found them being a faithful marriage in the little things.