dominicosLuke 12, 39-48
If the owner of the house knew at what time the heir was going to arrive...Be prepared : for the Son of Man will arrive when you least think.
For one who believes, history is not a perpetual starting again from the beginning; but follows a progression marked by a number of "visits" by God, on privileged days, hours, moments, the Lord has come, continues coming, will come again.. To judge the world and to save it.
It is very true that the first Christians awaited, almost physically, the last coming, the Parausia, of Jesus. They ardently desired it and prayed for this coming to be soon : "Come Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 16, 22; Revelations 22, 17-20). The new eucharistic prayers, since the Concilio, have returned to us this beautiful and essential prayer; "We await your glorious coming. we await your return. Come, Lord Jesus. But, can it be said that these prayers have effectively entered into our lives?
On the other hand, we shouldn't just be awaiting the last coming of Jesus, at our own death, at the end of the world. Because, it can never be repeated enough, the "comings" of Jesus are many and they are not ostentatious. we can even not see them! We can refuse them! "He came to his house and his people did not receive him (Juan, 1, 11) and Jesus wept over Jerusalem "because the city didn't recognize the time when it was "visited" (Lucas 19, 44). Revelations presents Jesus prepared to take part in the life of the churches of Asia if they do not convert (Rev 2, 3). And each disciple is invited to receive the "intimate and personal" visit of Jesus. "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me" (Rev. 3, 20)
"He will arrive when you least think."
Oh, Lord, help me to think about it. Awaken my heart for these meetings with you.
Peter then said to him "Lord, did you say that parable for us or for everyone in general?" The Lord responds "Where is the loyal and sensible administrator who the Owner will entrust to give our their ration of corn to the servants at their due times? Happy is that hired man if the Master, on returning, finds him at his work.
After inviting every Christian to be vigilant, Jesus, answering Peter, will make a particular application of the parable to the ones "responsible for communities", who should be "faithful and sensible". Yes, the server of the servants is only an administrator, not the master. the day will come when he will have make accounts. His role essentially is "to give to each one their food at their times".
Therefore, all the Church has to be in attitude of "vigilance". each Christian, but also and above all each responsible one. The Kingdom of God is already commenced. To refer to this Kingdom - which, certainly, will not be "finished" until the End - does not imply for the Church a leap forward towards a dream future, but only to accept the present time as hope and to contribute towards that present time accepting and receiving the Kingdom that is already here.
"Happy the servant if his master, arriving, finds him at his work".
Help me, Lord, to be at my work each day and to note your presence..
From him to whom much is given, much will be expected; to whom much is trusted, more will be asked.
Peter's question could, perhaps, signify that, in his mind, he felt very sure of the Kingdom and that he had nothing to fear as he had been chosen as one responsible. The answer of Jesus goes entirely in the opposite direction; the greater the responsibility, the greater also will be the accountability. Notice, however, the subtlety of the thought; the judgment will depend upon the grade of the guilt . one may be unaware of the harm caused and this diminishes our responsibility, says Jesus.
Help us Lord.
Final prayers