THE WORD
Rom 5: 12.15.17–19.20–21 / Lk 12: 35–38
Jesus said to his disciples, “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”
IN OTHER WORDS
In the early 80’s, when our barrio was still deprived of electricity, there was only one house that had a television set. Every evening, young and old trooped to my aunt’s house to watch TV, never mind if it was still black and white. After the program, they would happily discuss what they had watched on the way home.
I remember this moment because this was the time when my grandfather became a widower, and he was alone in his old two-storey Spanish house. My family decided that I stay with him during the night. Since as a young child, I was also fond of watching TV, my dear Lolo constantly and patiently waited for me, contemplatively watching the stars before my arrival, and going down from the veranda upon my knocking on the door. He was always up when I arrived.
In our gospel for today, Jesus extols the virtue of faithfulness. He reminds His disciples to take the role of servants waiting for the return of their master. During His time, when masters are not around or while on journey, the faithful servants never slumber, or even lie down to rest. They take on their loose flowing Eastern robes and fasten their skirt under the girdle, with their lamps all trimmed and burning, indicating their preparedness should their master arrive.
Our world today seems to frown at the idea of waiting: we prefer express deliveries; we yell at slow service in food chains; we want things done automatically. This kind of mentality poses a great difficulty in any kind of dependence on God. We have to admit that we’re all equally guilty of wanting God do something immediately, or sooner rather than later, at one point or another. Paul reminded the Romans, “To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life” (Romans 2:7).
The Gospel has an interesting twist: when the master returns, he will serve the servants who are faithfully waiting. Jesus has always placed a grand reward on service, and here he shows that he will honor faithfulness with service. It is not at all common for masters to serve slaves, but God’s grace shows the extent of God’s love. He leads the stewards in service. He shares the meal at the table of fellowship and serves the food. The imagery suggests the blessing of being totally accepted by Jesus.
- Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD (WBC – Cebu City)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
