The Second Sunday of Easter (GA)

Luke 12:35-48

³⁵ “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. ³⁷ Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. ³⁸ If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! ³⁹ But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

⁴¹ Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” ⁴² And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. ⁴⁷ And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. ⁴⁸ But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

I remember in the Movie "Hook" with Robin Williams, Peter Pan left Rufio in charge when he left. At the end of the Movie Peter Banning (Pan) has to leave someone else in charge. But why do you have to leave someone in charge. Isn't that partly the point. The Master is the one in control. It does not matter who does what, but all are supposed to keep watch, and prepare for his arrival.

It seems a little silly to say the servant the Master finds awake when he comes, whether the second, third or fourth watch. We have these different watches, so that we can divide up the duty. So if the Master comes during the second watch and I am sleeping so I will be awake during the fourth watch, well that just sucks.

Keep yourself ready for action. Always be ready to give a defense for your faith. It does not matter whether you are asleep or awake. It matters whether you are found in Christ Jesus. For each of us would be found guilty and cut to pieces, if it was not for the forgiveness of Christ Jesus. Stay ready, you know the Master's will. He desires you to be saved and even sent his Son to die for your forgiveness.

Christ has died. Christ is Risen. Christ will come Soon!