YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: KEEP WATCH ALWAYS
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
(Mt. 24:42-51) Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time.
In today’s Gospel Jesus introduces the faithful servant who is vigilant while his master is away. The servant is entrusted with the master’s property because he was found responsible. Jesus also describes the wicked servant who is found busy with bullying his fellow servants and eating and drinking while the master is away. The said servant will be punished for being imprudent and irresponsible.
The description was made to refer to the leaders of the Church, then and now. The issue is not really about having been carried away by the events but in easily resting on some laurels or being defeated by some failures. Spiritual life is a marathon and not a sprint. We run a lot of races and we need to win them all. The devil will always be there to tempt us to be complacent and be satisfied with one or two victories. We need to sustain our holiness and good moral standing. Holiness is not only a goal, it is more a way of life.
Past teachings of the Lord tells us that the devil will strike at anytime. Once we are caught flat- footed, we can never defeat it. It is partly the reason why God did not tell us when is the end time or when Jesus will come again. It was certain that Jesus will return. It is certain that judgment day will come. The best preparation is to be vigilant. Let us see each day as the last day of our lives. Let us treat each day as the day of reckoning. When we do, let us not be afraid. The faithful child of God anticipates with joy and enthusiasm the coming of the Lord. The child of God is excited and looks forward to that glorious meeting.
