29th Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Wednesday, 23rd October 2024

Our waiting for the Lord should not be a passive one, being deceived by those who languish in their saying, “My Master is taking his time coming!” This category of people are always unhappy, and slumbering rather than finding true satisfaction. Jesus teaches his disciples to have an attitude of being vigilant, eager, and prepared to meet the Lord by executing the mission entrusted to them. This disposition of readiness is echoed by the Psalmist, “I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.”( Ps130:6). Are we eager to be met by the Lord at all?

Jesus illustrates that eagerness by pointing out that a householder would stay vigilant to keep his home safe. Likewise, a good and happy steward will show his devotedness and trust waiting, as expected, by the Master. Unlike those languishing followers who engage in drunkeness and abuse those under their care, their consequences are no different from the unbelievers who deceive themselves by repeating “The Master is taking his sweet time to come!” Jesus clearly disqualifies such languishing imitators as his disciples.

As a baptised disciple of Christ, we must appreciate that all our gifts are at the service of others (1 Cor 12). Hence, we are stewards of the gifts, and mission allotted to us .

Lord, sustain us as your happy stewards, eager and ready to serve the poor and rich alike.