The Gospel of the day – 23th October

Luke 12, 39-48

You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house.  You too must stand ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’  Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’  The Lord replied, ‘Who, then, is the wise and trustworthy steward whom the master will place over his household to give them at the proper time their allowance of food?  Blessed that servant if his master’s arrival finds him doing exactly that.  I tell you truly, he will put him in charge of everything that he owns.  But if the servant says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the servant-girls, and eating and drinking and getting drunk,  his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.  ‘The servant who knows what his master wants, but has got nothing ready and done nothing in accord with those wishes, will be given a great many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but has acted in such a way that he deserves a beating, will be given fewer strokes. When someone is given a great deal, a great deal will be demanded of that person; when someone is entrusted with a great deal, of that person even more will be expected.

The Saint of the day: St John of Capestran