Stay Alert

When Mark was a boy, he once asked his father why he came home, sat in his chair, and watched TV all night instead of spending more time with his family.

"I work very hard all day," his father explained. "When I come home, I just want to rest. It's not fair that I should have to work at home, too. I spend my weekends for the family, but my evenings are my time to rest and rejuvenate."

As a child, Mark thought his father's explanation sounded reasonable. It was many years before he began to see the flaws in the story: What about him and his sister, who worked hard in school all day, then came home to chores and homework? What about their mother who worked a part-time job, then was home to meet her kids after school, cook a meal, supervise kids, and clean the house?

As married couples, we are called to work. Marriage is a sacrament of vocation, that is, a life's work. Indeed, it is the work that matters most to God; your wage labor is intended to be at the service of your family, not the other way around.

In this week's Gospel, God calls us to be watchful, to stay alert. We don't know when an accounting of our labors will be asked of us.

And when that accounting takes place, the question will not be how hard we labored for our daily wage, how big a house we purchased, or how effectively we managed our wealth. The question will be: how effectively did you love and serve your family?

So get off the couch (unless you are reading to your kids or snuggling with your spouse!) Be watchful: what does your family need of you right now? What will they need of you in coming days or months that you can prepare for now?

You are a servant to whom the Master entrusted the physical and spiritual well-being of your spouse and your family. Whenever he comes to you, let him find you at work on that task.