Gospel                                                             LK 12:39-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Reflection: 
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?”
We never know when Jesus Christ will present us with the opportunity to do His work.
There are times when we are deliberately engaged in trying to bring “the food allowance,” the love and hope of God to people.
Christians everywhere give of their time and talent to teach religious education so our youngsters can learn about the love of God.
But, can we convey the love of God to the ungrateful, to the person who seeks to take advantage, to the one who mocks us for going to church and believing in God.
Can we, like Christ, see the opportunity to make God known when dealing with people who ridicule us and decry our faith?
When Jesus walked the earth, He was not “preaching to the choir.” He was making God’s love known to those who rejected and ultimately killed him.
“Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.”
Jesus Christ has entrusted us with His ministry of spreading the love and forgiveness of our Father to all we meet.
“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
He promised if we do a good job, we will be given more work.
Our greatest reward is that Christ passes on to us the work that God the Father entrusted to Him.
” Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary use words.”
– –  Saint Francis