The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our relationship with family, friends, and community as experiences of care, love, and compassion.
The Reading from the First Letter of Paul to theThessalonians is a Concluding Thanksgiving and Prayer.
* [3:9–10] The tension between Paul’s optimism concerning the Thessalonians’ faith and his worries about their perseverance remains unresolved. Perhaps this is accounted for not only by the continuing harassment but also by the shortness of his own stay in Thessalonica (even if that were over twice as long as the conventional three weeks that Luke assigns to it, Acts 17:2). (1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 90 contains a plea for God’s intervention.
* [Psalm 90] A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Ps 90:1), the Psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Ps 90:2–6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Ps 90:7–12). The Psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Ps 90:13–17). (Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches about The Faithful or the Unfaithful Servant.
* [24:42–44] Cf. Lk 12:39–40. The theme of vigilance and readiness is continued with the bold comparison of the Son of Man to a thief who comes to break into a house.
* [24:45–51] The second part of the discourse (see note on Mt 24:1–25:46) begins with this parable of the faithful or unfaithful servant; cf. Lk 12:41–46. It is addressed to the leaders of Matthew’s church; the servant has been put in charge of his master’s household (Mt 24:45) even though that household is composed of those who are his fellow servants (Mt 24:49).
* [24:45] To distribute…proper time: readiness for the master’s return means a vigilance that is accompanied by faithful performance of the duty assigned.
* [24:48] My master…delayed: the note of delay is found also in the other parables of this section; cf. Mt 25:5, 19.
* [24:51] Punish him severely: the Greek verb, found in the New Testament only here and in the Lucan parallel (Lk 12:46), means, literally, “cut in two.” With the hypocrites: see note on Mt 6:2. Matthew classes the unfaithful Christian leader with the unbelieving leaders of Judaism. Wailing and grinding of teeth: see note on Mt 8:11–12. (Matthew, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)
A Member of Creighton University Community comments that “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day you will encounter the Lord.” helps them concentrate more on living than on being prepared to die.
Being alert to when I might encounter the Lord in my daily life, and being prepared to be the “faithful and prudent servant” turns my attention to how I interact with and treat others. If I am awake to all the possible ways I can see the Lord, I will recognize Jesus in those who suffer, and will act differently than if I am insensitive to them and their needs. If I do not know when I will encounter the Lord, then I should react to everyone I meet as if I were meeting the Lord. If I am a faithful and prudent steward, then I will be generous with the gifts God has given me and will distribute them “at the proper time” to the other members of my household (realizing that my household is the broader family of other people and not my limited biological family). (Daily Reflection August 30, 2007, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “You do not know the day,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"But his meaning is like this: If ordinary persons knew when they were going to die, they would surely be striving earnestly at that hour. In order therefore that they may strive, not at that hour only, he does not tell them the hour or day. He wants to keep them on their toes looking for it, that they may be always striving. This is why he made the end of each person's life so uncertain. In this passage he openly implies that he himself is Lord. Nowhere before has he spoken of this so distinctly. But here he seems to me also to be putting to shame those who remain careless about his lordship. They take much more care about a thief taking their money than about their own soul. Those who care about their house and do not want their possessions stolen take measures against the thief. They watch; they are prepared for the thief. So it is with you. You do not know when he will come. But you know assuredly that he will come. If you do not continue to watch, you will not be ready on that day. You will be unprepared. Destruction will come in your sleep. If the person had known when the thief was coming, he would have been prepared. So be like the one who is prepared at all times, so you will escape free. Having then mentioned the judgment, he directs his thoughts next to teachers, speaking of honorable and dishonorable actions. His discourse closes with that which is alarming, for he speaks first of those who do right, then of those who continue in sin." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 77.2-3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation Matthew 24:42-51 comments that two thousand years have passed, and the Lord’s coming is still delayed. So how can we be like the faithful servant?
Second, we can persevere in obedience. We can try not to grow weary in doing the good he has given us to do, especially when it comes to caring for the people around us. Jesus is delighted when he sees us working hard at our jobs, caring for our families, and providing for his people in need.
That’s it. That’s all it takes. If we can strive just to be faithful, Jesus promises us great rewards both in this life and in the next.
“Lord, help me to be your faithful servant. Lead me in simply doing what you ask of me.” (Meditation Matthew 24:42-51, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the First Letter to the Thessalonians is a thanksgiving for the turning of the community toward Christ and becoming part of life and heart of the missionary Paul. God will supply whatever they need in faith. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus encourages the people to stay awake. The end of the world was thought to be signed by the rising from the grave. Matthew begins to realize the return may be delayed. Friar Jude reminds us that the Parable, about the coming judgement, urges waiting for the master and doing the right thing for reward or severe beating. We don’t know the end , always be ready.
Brian McLaren recalls how he felt led to reach out to local mosques in the days after the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks. The friendship between our congregations grew through a series of interfaith dialogues.
Some people were, I imagine, a little shocked at first to see a Muslim cleric walking through the church lobby as people chatted over coffee and bagels. But because our congregations had developed a friendship, he was soon recognized and welcomed…. There was something wonderfully right about Ahmad feeling so at home that he could come find me before or between services on a Sunday….
Imagine what might happen around the world if more and more Christians rediscover that central to Christian life and mission is what we could call subversive or transgressive friendship—friendship that crosses boundaries of otherness and dares to offer and receive hospitality…. Imagine the good that could happen—and the evil that could be prevented from happening—if more Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and others cross the roads and other barriers that have separated them, and discover one another as friends. (McLaren, n.d.)
We are reminded of the power for good of communities where commitment to faith, encouragement, and action are the basis of relationships with people and Nature.
References
Daily Reflection August 30, 2007. (n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-30-2007
Matthew, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/24?42
McLaren, B. (n.d.). Hospitality Can Lead to Healing. CAC.org. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/hospitality-can-lead-to-healing/
Meditation Matthew 24:42-51. (n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/?utm_content=buffer5c902&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1thessalonians/3?7
Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/90?3
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Are You Ready to Meet the Lord? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug28
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