Matthew 24:42-51

1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

Psalm 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17

Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Stay awake!

For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house

had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,

he would have stayed awake

and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared,

for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,

whom the master has put in charge of his household

to distribute to them their food at the proper time?

Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.

Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’

and begins to beat his fellow servants,

and eat and drink with drunkards,

the servant's master will come on an unexpected day

and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely

and assign him a place with the hypocrites,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, strengthen me to be watchful and vigilant. Guide me to carry out my mission with prudence and fidelity to your Word. Do not allow me to become complacent or lazy in my life. Fill me with your Spirit, so that I might do something beautiful and noble for your Son and his Bride, the Church.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Stay Awake: In the Gospel, we have begun to hear from Jesus’ fifth major discourse. It is called the “eschatological discourse,” since it focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the world, and the return of the Son of Man. It was delivered on the Mount of Olives and addressed the disciples’ questions about the signs of Jesus’ coming and the end of the age. There will be false Messiahs and prophets who will deceive many (Matthew 24:4-26). There will be tribulations and wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecutions (Matthew 24:6-14). The Temple will be desecrated (Matthew 24:15-22). No one but the Father knows the day or the hour of the Son’s return, so the disciples must stay vigilant. Jesus’ disciples need to remain diligent and responsible in their duties in the Church and the world as they await the coming (Parousia) of the Son of Man.

2. The Servant’s Lord will Come: The parable encourages faithful stewardship. It contrasts two types of servants. One who faithfully manages the master’s household and another who, assuming the master’s delay, abuses authority and indulges in wickedness. This is especially important because the apostles and their successors will exercise authority in the Church. Faithful stewardship leads to reward, while negligence or abuse of responsibility results in judgment. Jesus urges vigilance due to uncertain timing. The wicked servant’s error is presuming the master’s delay, leading to complacency. The faithful servant is rewarded with greater responsibility, while the wicked servant faces severe punishment. There will be a final accounting for how disciples have lived. The parable warns against hypocrisy and irresponsibility, reinforcing the eternal stakes of one’s actions. The Eschatological Discourse emphasizes preparation for the end times through endurance, readiness, and compassion. This parable specifically addresses personal conduct and leadership within the community of believers. It calls the disciples, especially those in positions of authority, to model faithfulness and avoid exploiting their authority. They need to live righteously in anticipation of Christ’s return.

3. Be Blameless in Holiness: In the First Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul relates that Timothy has brought him good news about how they persevered in their faith and love. For this, Paul is comforted and thankful. Paul prays that he may see the Thessalonian community again and that they might abound in brotherly love and holiness until the day when Christ returns with his holy ones. This was the reason Paul wrote them a letter. “Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians in response to Timothy’s report, thanking God for their endurance, telling of his love for them, and instructing them in holiness and hope in the salvation of Christ Jesus” (Prothro, An Introduction to Paul and His Letters, 222).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I do not know how to pray as I ought, nor do I know how to be holy. You, though, can teach me and guide me. Teach me to pray. Guide me in the paths of holiness. Enable me to experience the joy of discerning and fulfilling the Father’s holy will.

Living the Word of God: If Paul were to write a letter to me and my family, what would he say? If he sent someone to visit my family and see how they are doing, what would he report back to Paul? If I could send a letter to my family, what would I say? What are the things I am thankful for? What are the threats to my family? What are the challenges and opportunities? If I could work to change one thing, what would it be?