Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 

- Matthew 24:45-51

In our current readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem, and it is what we know as Holy Week, the final week of Jesus' earthly life.  In yesterday's reading, He continued His prophesy of the destruction of the temple and war in Jerusalem, but also of the end times and His return.  After giving His warnings and prophecy of what is to come, He taught them, "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his   goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus gives us a parable to explain the circumstances of the time period we are in, while we await His return or Second Coming.  We're to be the good servants who, in the absence of the Master, remember and follow His commands, taking care of His household and all of those in it.  It's interesting to see that, as Jesus is speaking to His disciples, He explains the circumstances in terms of leadership:  those who would be great in His home, and become ruler over all his goods.   Those who fail to follow His commands which require that we care for one another in the ways that He has taught are those who will be cast out when the Master returns.

It's very interesting that Jesus' parable is given in terms of appropriate leadership and responsibilities among those who are His servants.  It is designed to teach us what we are to be about, and to explain our own positions as His followers.  Are we going to be loyal and faithful?  In this context, faithfulness is not about belief, but the willingness to follow His commandments.  That is, our capacity to have faith in Him and thereby His teachings and His commands for our behavior as those who love Him and are loyal to Him.  In Jesus' parable, we are given the image He wants us to have of faithfulness.  Are His commands sacred to us?  He is the head of the household, and as His true servants, we do as He teaches, as He wants His household to be run.  It is all about how deep our loyalty and trust goes, and how devoted we can be in His service.  We are to care for one another, and not to treat one another badly.  His specific example here is of the faithful and wise servant . . . made ruler over the household, to give them food in due season.   What does it mean to give food to the household?  With what do we nourish one another, in His word?  Jesus' example of the evil servant is the one who tells himself, "My master is delaying in his coming," and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards.  Those who defy His commands are negligent, abusive, and destructive, entirely forgetful of what makes for a good life and a good rule in His household.  So where are we on that scale?  The good news is that when we come to ourselves (like the Prodigal Son), we recall what we are to be about, we can resume our efforts in His service, repenting of our failures.