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A WORD FROM THE PASTOR
A Good Account Of Our Stewardship
A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida to thaw out during one particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they had spent their honeymoon twenty years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult for them to coordinate their flights, so the husband left Minneapolis and flew to Florida on Thursday with his wife scheduled to fly down the next day.
The husband checked into the hotel. He opened his laptop and decided to send an email to his wife. Accidentally, he left out one letter in her email address and without realizing it, sent the email message to the wrong person. Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack. The widow decided to check her email since she was expecting messages of condolence from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she fainted.
The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor and was amazed by what he saw on the computer screen. To: My loving wife. Subject: I've arrived. I know you're surprised to hear from me. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. P.S. It sure is hot down here!
The widow wasn't ready for that message; it was a mistake.
But the time will come when we get the message saying that the time has come for us to die, and it won't be a mistake. We are called to be ready for this time by living out our faith and hope in Christ.
Jesus uses three mini parables. They are addressed to all of us to encourage "wakefulness" and preparedness. We must be vigilant like the servant in the parable waiting for his master's unexpected return or like the wise homeowner who was well prepared for the unexpected break-in of a thief. Since the time of our death is quite uncertain, we, too, must be ever ready to meet our Lord at any moment.
The Gospel passage also reminds us that we should avoid the temptation to put off for tomorrow what Jesus expects of us today. The Lord is coming back. How should we prepare? Not just by looking busy, but by being busy, doing our work faithfully. Whenever Jesus comes, will he find us responsible, faithful, productive stewards or lazy, abusive, unfaithful stewards? Can we give him a good account of our stewardship?
He should find us carrying out our tasks of love, mercy, and service, rather than leaving things undone or half-done. He should also find us at peace with God, with ourselves and with our fellowmen (Eph 4:26).
Let us recall the words of the Book of Revelation: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him and he with me" (3:20).
In the Service of the Lord,
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