Thursday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time
1 Ths 3:7-13
Mt 24:42-51
“Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment.”
Today’s gospel reading speaks deeply to the ongoing geopolitical and public health uncertainty that we are facing. Indeed, the news channels have been filled with distressing images of people fleeing their own countries, or people falling severely ill from the coronavirus.
In both cases, the victims were struck by crisis unexpectedly. For those who fled Kabul with little more than the clothes on their back, they did not expect their government and society to fall apart so quickly. For societies who are still fighting off massive Covid-19 infections, the Delta variant of the virus had struck in the most unexpected manner and given rise to near-uncontrollable transmissions.
Yet amid this chaos, we are told by Jesus to always stay awake. Truly, we do not know the hour of night when the thief will come to steal our peace and our lives. But for the faithful and prudent servant who has taken care of the Master’s property and people from the very day that he was tasked to do so, we are told that the Lord will be most pleased and will bless this servant.
It is important that Jesus said “blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so” and not “blessed is that servant whom the masters finds has done so”. The operative word is ‘doing’. It is a word of action and perhaps most importantly, it is in the present tense.
Therefore even as we live amid global chaos and uncertainty, we need to continue practicing our vocations and serving others in the ways that Jesus has taught us to do. We are asked to continuing doing so, until the very day that the Lord Himself comes to us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Jacob Woo)
Prayer: Lord, we pray for strength and fortitude, as we continue to do your work amid uncertainty and distress.
Thanksgiving: We thank the Lord for the vocations that He has given us, that we are blessed to not simply be His sons and daughters, but to be able to labour in His love and to labour for His sake.
OXYGEN 
Thank you so much for this reflection.
I especially appreciate this…”It is important that Jesus said “blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so” and not “blessed is that servant whom the masters finds has done so”. The operative word is ‘doing’. It is a word of action and perhaps most importantly, it is in the present tense.”
God bless
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