Gospel
‘Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.’
Luke 12:39–48
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 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.’
The Gospel of the Lord
A Faithful and Prudent Steward of Love
God loves us passionately. He has created us and given us the gift of life, faith, our vocation, our spouse, the Sacrament of Matrimony and our family. What have we done to deserve so much? Nothing. His Love is freely given: we do not have to earn it, nor can we buy it; He gives it to us because He loves us. And yet, although He gives it to us as a gift, it has cost God the life of His own Son. Such is the immensity of His Love for us!
And now, through the Sacrament of Matrimony, God entrusts me with a beautiful mission: to bring that Love to my spouse. What is a faithful and prudent steward of love like? He is faithful when he never stops loving, even when it is difficult, when he is tired, when he does not understand what is happening or when he does not receive what he expected… And he is prudent when he knows how to find a way to convey that Love in every circumstance: with patience when his spouse fails, with understanding when they are overwhelmed, with tenderness when they need comfort and with mercy when they make a mistake. Today, in my prayer, I can ask myself: Am I attentive to what my spouse needs from me at every moment? Could my spouse discover, through me, just how much God loves them?
Lord, teach us to be faithful and prudent stewards of love, who know how to give our spouse each day the Love we receive from You.
Applied to Married Life
David: I messed up at work today. I made a mistake in something I really ought to know perfectly well. I’m so frustrated. Sometimes I think I can’t do anything right, and I feel as though I’m letting you down.
Rachel: David, do you think I love you because you do things well? If tomorrow you couldn’t work, if you couldn’t do any of the things you do now, do you think I would love you any less?
David: Sometimes I’m afraid that if you saw me as I really am, with all my insecurities and failures… I try so hard to be strong, to solve problems, to make sure you and the children never go without anything… And it frightens me to think that one day I might not be able to cope with everything…
Rachel: David, I didn’t marry a man who could cope with everything. I married you. Do you think God loves us less on the days when we fail?
David: I suppose not…
Rachel: I don’t think so either… Sometimes we forget how precious we are in God’s eyes… You don’t have to prove anything to me for me to love you. And if you can’t cope with everything today, let me be here for you… Come on, give me a kiss!
Mother,
Lend me Your eyes so that I may discover each day the treasure God has given me. Blessed and praised be You!