Black's Blog

March 26, 2010
Luke 12:35-48

Along with the parable of the ten virgins this is a strong reminder to be ready for the coming of the kingdom just as we should be ready for the master who returns from the wedding banquet. It is the prudent thing to do, but it is also that which will put us in good stead with the Lord.  The fact of the matter is that it is also the only way to be ready when the master does come because that return will happen at an unexpected time. So our waiting is to be accompanied by being good stewards at all times because you never know when the master will come.

In a way I think of this parable as being like the officer(s) coming to inspect the military barracks. I am not too fond of that hierarchical point of view and it could lead to high anxiety for us plebes. On the other hand, the fact of the matter is that our relationship to the “master” is not egalitarian. There are some expectations that our gracious God has for us and we ought to pursue those expectations with a certain “spit polish.” Don’t we want to be part of the big celebration? Don’t we want to be part of the kingdom of God? If we do, we need to adopt kingdom ethics and make the most of what we have been given

Taken together these parables that talk about “being watchful for the Lord’s return” are the least connected parables to my/our life today. We have become lackadaisical about when or if Christ will come again. However, I hear Jesus saying that this is easy even in the first century and can be avoided only by being vigilant and faithful. My only wonderment of others is whether or not that kind of vigilance makes them anxious or whether you take it seriously at all?