The Parable of the Watchful Servants
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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A servant stays awake for his master’s return at night, and the master himself serves him a meal
What is this parable?
This is a short parable Jesus told to teach his disciples to stay awake, always ready for his return (cf. Lk 12:35-40). Girding your loins is a picture from long ago: a long robe was pulled up and tucked into the belt, to make it easier to work. Keeping the lamps lit meant there would still be light to open the door for the master late at night.
The story
Jesus tells of servants waiting for their master to come back from a wedding. They do not go to sleep, so that when the master arrives and knocks, they can open the door at once (cf. Lk 12:36). “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” (Lk 12:37).
The surprise is that the master does not sit and wait for his servants to serve the meal. He himself ties up his robe with his belt, seats them at table and goes to each one to serve them (cf. Lk 12:37). Even if the master comes very late, in the second or third watch of the night, and finds them still awake, blessed are they (cf. Lk 12:38).
The card shows the moment when the master sets a bowl of food in front of the servant, beside the lamp that is still burning.
What does Jesus want to teach you?
Jesus will come again, and each person will also meet the Lord at a moment they do not know ahead of time. “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Lk 12:40). Staying awake does not mean being afraid; it means living well every day, like someone waiting for a person they love. The master serving his servant reminds you of Jesus at the Last Supper: he is the Lord, yet he bent down to wash his disciples’ feet (cf. Jn 13:4-5).
A lesson for you
- Keep your heart free from sin, like a lamp that is always lit.
- Do your duties well every day, even when no one is watching.
- Every evening, say a short prayer and offer your day to the Lord.
Identifying marks
- A clay oil lamp burning on the table: always ready, keeping your heart bright like a lamp already lit to welcome the Lord.
- The master with his sleeves rolled up and his belt neatly tied: the Lord comes to serve; he is the Lord, yet he bends down to do a servant’s work.
- The master setting a bowl of food in front of the servant: the reward of those who stay awake is the Lord himself caring for them lovingly.
- The servant sitting at the table, raising both hands in surprise: God’s generosity goes far beyond what we would dare to hope for.
- A door open to the starry night sky: the Lord comes at an hour we do not expect, so we must always be ready.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About