The Gospel today invites me to deal with three important things a servant should do.

First, one must be discerning to be able to seek the will of God in my life. I learned from my 30-day retreat that every day should be a day for prayer and reflection. It does not necessarily mean that I should always be in front of the Blessed Sacrament every single hour. I must make myself available and attuned every day especially in moments where God seeks to encounter me any part of the day.

Second, one must always be prepared. Our life here on earth is short and uncertain. I do not know when, where and how I will die that is why I must be prepared for it. To be prepared means to offer every single day of my life to God and do His Will accordingly. I must be always on guard because the lure of the devil is ever-present.

Lastly, one must always be faithful to the Master. To be faithful means to offer everything to Him. I learned from my counselor that when one falls short in becoming and remaining faithful, he or she sins against the virtue of chastity. Being entrusted with the task of shepherding the flock is also a test in becoming faithful to His Will.

As a servant is held accountable and liable for everything he does, I must therefore be prudent in my actions. In the end, I will be held responsible for all my actions and inactions. Whatever we do on earth echoes in eternity. We will be accountable before the Master.

By: Sem. Peter Collin C. Crisostomo

Today's Gospel

Mt 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,'
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant's master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."