Blessed is the faithful and prudent servant who remains attentive to the needs of his master. Although today’s Gospel passage (24:42-51) is not immediately preceded by the passage we read yesterday (23:27-32), the two passages appear to be connected thematically (see the concluding remarks in verse 51: ‘…will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites…’). After castigating the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, Jesus proceeded to talk about the end times when the Son of Man will come unannounced. This surprise coming of the Son of Man will catch many peoples unawares, including those who are believed to be knowledgeable about the coming. The castigation of the religious leaders was thus meant to exhort the disciples into being ready for that day by remaining faithful in their call. In the parable that Jesus gives, the servant was found unprepared for his master’s return because of his infidelity. The servant had been entrusted as a steward in his master’s household. He was in charge of both his master’s property as well as the other servants who worked in his master’s estate. As a steward, his responsibility was that of ensuring that everything ran smoothly and that his master’s estate produced handsome returns. His responsibility became even greater and his loyalty needed the most when his master was away on a trip. But it was at this moment that he was found wanting because he failed the loyalty test. He became not only an irresponsible servant but also an unfaithful one. Discipleship is all about fidelity. The fidelity required of a disciple is not one of doing but rather of being. A disciple must be aware of his/her identity at all times, for it is in this that lies the preparedness that Jesus is talking about. Once the being of a disciple is up-to-date, the doing of a disciple becomes easy. Had the servant kept in mind his identity as the steward of his master’s household, he would not have been caught unawares by the return of the master since the household would have been found running smoothly. As a matter of fact, the return of the master would have become a joyous occasion for him, a time to show the master the good things that happened in his absence. As disciples, we become ready for the second coming of Jesus when we understand the call that we have received from Jesus and as we endeavor to live perfectly that call.