Today’s Scripture Readings

‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to live as vigilant servants—awake, alert, and ready to act with faithfulness. His words are not meant to inspire fear, but to nurture attentiveness to God’s presence in the ordinary and be open. Readiness, in this sense, is not anxious waiting for a distant return, but a way of living that reflects the ongoing expression of awareness and love.
It is easy to rest after doing something good, to feel that our part in building the Kingdom has been done ‘for now.’ Yet Jesus calls us to a deeper awareness: goodness is not a momentary act but a way of being. To contribute to human flourishing and the common good means allowing the Gospel to shape every choice, encounter, and responsibility. We are asked not only to respond to need when it is visible but to cultivate a readiness of spirit that notices, listens, and acts with compassion even in the ordinary.
To love God is to love others, to see His image in every person and to serve Him through acts of mercy, justice, and kindness. Our lives are deeply interconnected, and what we do, or fail to do, has an impact beyond ourselves. Faithfulness is not measured by the magnitude of our deeds but by their constancy and their underlying intention: the quiet, ongoing witness of love at work. Like the wise steward, we are entrusted with the care of others and with the flourishing of God’s creation.
May our hearts remain open to Your presence in others and may our love for You be shown in our care for them and our readiness to respond.