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 of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him 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 recent readings, Jesus has been in Jerusalem, and it is Holy Week, the final week of Christ's earthly life.  After disputing with the religious authorities in the temple, Jesus is now outside of the temple, and He has been teaching the disciples regarding the "end times" and also the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem to come.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus 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 of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him 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."  We recall that Christ is speaking to His disciples here, and that He has just given them a great prophesy and warning regarding "end times" and also His Second Coming.  Here in this parable, the faithful and wise servant is a reference to those who would be faithful and wise disciples.  The ruler over the master's household applies to those who would become the stewards and presbyters and leaders of the Church, in charge of Christ's flock.  Will they be giving Christ's household food in due season, spiritually nurturing and caring properly for the members of the household?  Or will they be forgetful of who they must be (evil servant), abusing power (beat his fellow servants), self-indulgent and selfish (eat and drink with the drunkards) and defying the the Lord whom they are meant serve (my master is delaying his coming)?  

 

In St. Matthew's chapter 23, just before He began His prophesy of end times and destruction of the temple, Jesus gave His final public sermon, in which He chastised the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy.  Here, He's telling His own disciples -- which include us today -- that if they fail in their mission through similar practices, then the fate of the scribes and Pharisees (the "woes" of chapter 23) will be one they share at His return and the judgment that takes place then (appoint him his portion with the hypocrites).  Once again, Christ repeats the theme that He will come at an hour we do not expect, only this time the warning is pointed directly at those who will become the stewards of His Church, who are meant to be His servants (the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him at an hour that he is not aware of).  Weeping and gnashing of teeth are images of condemnation in the judgment.  This is contrasted with the faithful and wise servant who is blessed because the master returns to find that servant caring properly for all those of the household.  In contrast to the others, the faithful and wise servant will be made ruler over all the master's goods.  This is similar to the promises made to the disciples following the story of the rich young ruler, who was told that if he wanted eternal life, he should sell all he had and give to the poor, and follow Christ.  At that point, St. Peter asked Christ, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"  Jesus replied by referring to His Second Coming and the subsequent judgment:  "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."  (See Matthew 19:13-30.)  So, the Gospels are consistent, and Christ's warnings and prophesies are consistent, about what we are to be about while we await His return in this entire period of the Church.  We, who would be His wise and faithful servants,  are those who remember our Lord and Master, and the commandments He's left us with in His absence, taking such responsibilities to those in His household seriously.  With what do we feed others that is the food of our Lord?  How do we share what we have and nurture our fellow members of this household, under His name?  What good things do you share of Christ's household?  How do we nurture others with the treasure we're given?  Christ promised that He was the Good Shepherd, and the Door of the sheep, who came not only that the sheep may have life, but that they may have life more abundantly (John 10:1-18).  Let us take seriously that abundant life we're given and how we share it in nurturing others, for He desires to find us as good servants who do not forget Him during His absence before His return.  Let us be those who live His final, new commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34-35).

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

Panagia Grigoroussa ("The Quick"), modern icon, Greece

"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 of 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 recent readings, Jesus has been speaking to the disciples about the end times, which incorporates a prophecy about the destruction to come to the temple and to Jerusalem within a generation (beginning with Saturday's reading).   "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 of 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."   If we take a close look at this parable, we see that it is directed toward the disciples, and specifically the apostles and their successors who will be leaders in the Church.  That is, to those whom the master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season.  In this time of prophesy of end times, in which Christ leaves His flock in the care of those who are meant to be faithful and wise servants, note that Jesus makes the analogy of feeding to pastoral care.   Once more, as He has already done several times, His warnings are against abuses in the Church, exploitation of the little ones, the less powerful, and excesses of power; self-indulgence rather than service.  He has just finished His address to the Pharisees and scribes, an eight-fold prophesy of woe and condemnation of their hypocrisy.  Here, He indicates that those who are meant to serve Him and fail to care faithfully for His household will be appointed his portion with the hypocrites. 

 Throughout the Gospel, we have read Jesus giving "exhortations to principles of virtue and warnings against corruption," as my study bible characterizes this final parable.  This is primarily directed toward the disciples, the ones who will be placed in positions of power in the Church.  But really, if we look carefully at all that He has said before regarding the prophecy of end times and the destruction of the temple, we should understand it as applying to all of the faithful.  At some level, each of us is appointed a servant, each of us awaits the Master's return, as we follow His prophecy and promise regarding His second coming.  Note that we all may give them food in due season.  That is, we might cultivate our own stores of virtue to share with others, following the directions and guidance of the Master even in His absence.  Jesus says that the evil servant in the parable says in his heart,  "My master is delaying his coming."   This easily applies to those of us who await His return these millennia later.  St. Peter addresses this problem in his Second Epistle, when he writes, "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, 'Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.' "  St. Peter then reminds us of the psalm, when he continues, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:3-8).  According to St. Peter, the purpose of lag or delay in fulfilling this promise of His return is for repentance; it is patience and time before the day of Judgment.  We in this world have things to learn, time to change our minds or repent.  We have experience of life so that we might reflect and come to terms with the teachings we're given.  In this sense, the delay is from the love of Christ, just as a good parent gives his or her children time to mature and to grow.  So, in this time of awaiting the Master's return, what do we do to feed and care for one another?  Clearly Jesus indicates that it is necessary that we refrain from "beating our fellow servants," not practicing violence, aggression, manipulation, not "pushing people around," so to speak.  Neither are we to "eat and drink with the drunkards," indulging ourselves in every self-centered impulse, forgetting who we are to be and the things to which Christ calls us as His servants, remembering His commands.  Certainly we are to remember Him, to be aware, and not to lose ourselves in the distractions of the day and the time.  As we await His return, we remember who we are and what we are to be about, we watch faithfully, caring for His household, maintaining our own good order for the sake of all the others as well.  In yesterday's reading, the icon type was one which depicted Mary, the Mother of God, as the One who is "Quick to Hear" our prayers (Panagia Gorgoepikoos).  Today, the icon above is similar, in that its title is Panagia Grigoroussa, the One who is Quick (to help us).  Panagia means All-Holy, and is a title for Mary; Grigoroussa is from the Greek word for "quick" or "swift."  She (as Christ's parable reminds us we are all to be as good servants) is the one who comes swiftly to help us, to respond to our requests for aid.  Her name Grigoroussa is also translated as "vigilant," meaning the one who is alert or awake to respond quickly to requests.   Let us remember that all of us are to be profitable servants, awake and alert to the tasks at hand, to the care and feeding of our fellow servants, to hear prayers and to pray with others as intercessors for one another.  This is how we await His return, and also how we await at this time the celebration of His birth into the world.

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 of 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 recent readings, Jesus has been speaking to His disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and also about the end of the age, the time of His second coming (see the earlier readings from Saturday and Monday).  In yesterday's reading, Jesus told 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 of 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."  Origen points out in his commentary that to be both "faithful and wise" is a rare combination, but Christ asks for both.  This servant is the one who serves Christ, whose job it is to "feed" the household.  It is an image of the Church, and of those who would minister in the Church.  Since this is a discourse to the apostles, it's most certainly applied to those who would be bishops, about being good pastors.  But to give food isn't only about hierarchs, but rather to all those entrusted with the riches of both spiritual gifts and the blessings of the world.  With what gifts have we been entrusted, and how do we use them to feed others?  The great key here is once again, as in so much of Scripture, the thought that "God doesn't see."  That is, that the master is delayed in his coming, and so self-centered or selfish patterns can emerge.  As with Jesus' criticisms of the leaders in the temple, this is a warning to His own pastors and those of us who consider ourselves His disciples to consider how we live in community.  Do we distribute what we have for the edification and nurturing of the others?  How can we be both faithful and wise?  Or does life turn back to the ways of hypocrisy, in which others are mistreated or exploited, in which the things of God are neglected in one's own conduct and particularly in feeding the household?  One stands to lose entirely one's portion in the house of God, sonship and being an heir to the Kingdom.  To be outcast from this heavenly community is to be cast away from the life offered by Christ.

What is it to be both faithful and wise?  This is a rather intriguing statement, and it would seem that Christ is teaching the disciples that to truly be good shepherds of His household will to take more than just diligence.  To be both faithful and wise is to seek God with all one's heart and soul and mind and strength, and it is also to love one's neighbor as oneself.  That is, to seek God fully and at the same time to consider wise management of resources, to be prudent, just, and merciful.  Christ calls on these disciples to be not just faithful, but also diligent and wise in the application of putting that faith to work, in actively feeding His household.  That's a great deal to ask, and yet of these men who will be His bishops and all their descendents in the sonship or heirs of the Church, that's what He asks.  Extending this to each of us who would be His servants means that we are called upon as fully as possible to live out our lives and our potentials as "rational sheep" to be those who are willing to grow in the life He calls us to -- to develop the gifts with which we're entrusted in ways both faithful and wise.  When we start to think that faithfulness as a sort of highly passive activity, then we had better read His words and think again.  Jesus is calling for servants who are capable of using their intelligence and capacity for wisdom, as well as all the gifts of faithful and enduring persistence in following His commands.  It reminds us of the call to prayer in what is called the "prayer of the heart" in the Eastern Church.  In this tradition, the Fathers from the earliest desert monastics call on us to pray "with the mind in the heart."  There isn't a single part of us that Jesus neglects nor fails to nourish:  He calls on all that we are to be a part of this challenge of how we live our lives and feed His household.  Neither our intelligence, nor wisdom in experience, nor capacity for effort, nor our faithfulness in the depth of the heart is to be neglected in service to His children.  Let us consider the challenge we're issued:  to become human beings who measure up to His standards of conduct as fully as possible, who grow in that faith and wisdom, and in so doing are to nurture and feed a flock -- a household.  This is what constitutes a good steward.  This challenge calls to us on every level of human life experience, and expands our concepts of ourselves so that we grow in His service.  Are you ready for that?  Do you expect the master?  Or do we grow lazy and neglectful and selfish, lost in other pursuits?  Which would you rather be?  That's really our great choice.