Matthew 24:42 opens with Jesus giving us a direct, urgent command: "Therefore, stay alert, because you don't know what day your Lord is coming." This isn't a gentle suggestion - it's a call to spiritual vigilance precisely because the timing of His return is deliberately hidden from us. The Greek word for "stay alert" is the same one used for a security guard keeping watch through the night, protecting everyone in the building. Jesus is asking us to maintain this kind of constant, loving watchfulness in our spiritual lives. And who better models this perfect alertness than Our Lady herself? Mary's entire life was marked by this beautiful spiritual vigilance - always listening for God's voice, always ready to respond with her "fiat." From the Annunciation through her quiet years in Nazareth to her faithful presence at the foot of the Cross, she shows us what it means to stay spiritually awake, never knowing when God might call us to something new but always being ready to say "yes."
Jesus makes His point about necessary alertness crystal clear in verses 43-44 with the parable of the homeowner and the thief: "If the head of the household had perceived in which night-watch the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into." Since homeowners can't predict when burglars will strike, they must stay prepared at all times. "By the same token," Jesus tells us, "you also must keep becoming prepared men, because the Son of Man is coming in which hour you are not suspecting." That phrase "keep becoming prepared" is so important - it's not a one-time event but an ongoing process of spiritual readiness. Mary perfectly embodies this continuous preparation. Through her daily "yes" to God's will, her faithful stewardship in raising Jesus, and her constant maternal care for all of us, she shows us how to live in a state of joyful readiness. When we pray the Rosary or ask for her intercession, she helps us maintain that spiritual alertness Jesus demands, always orienting our hearts toward her Son.
The beautiful promise in verses 45-47 reveals what this faithful alertness looks like in practice: "Who then is the faithful and smart servant whom his master will stand in His stead over His household staff to give the food to them in a timely way? That servant will be blessed who, when his master comes, He will find him doing thus. Really, I'm telling y'all that He will stand him in His stead over all of His possessions!" The faithful servant isn't just waiting around - he's actively serving, providing what's needed when it's needed. Mary is the perfect example of this kind of wise, faithful service. At the wedding feast in Cana, she noticed what was needed and quietly interceded with Jesus. Throughout salvation history, she continues to "give food at the proper time" through her maternal care, always knowing exactly what we need spiritually and when we need it. Whether through her apparitions, her intercession, or simply her example of perfect trust, she nourishes our souls and helps us become the kind of faithful servants Jesus is looking for.
But Jesus doesn't stop with the positive example - verses 48-51 show us the terrifying alternative: "But if that bad servant happens to say in his heart, 'My master is taking His time in coming,' and he begins to beat up his fellow-servants and to eat and drink with the drunks, the master of that servant will arrive during a day in which he is not anticipating it... and He will cut him in two, and he will set his district to be with the hypocrites." Notice how the downfall begins in the heart with that deadly thought: "My master is delaying." When we start thinking God isn't really watching, that His patience means we can live however we want, we open the door to treating others poorly and indulging in destructive behaviors. The consequences - being "cut in two" and assigned "with the hypocrites" where there is "wailing and gnashing of teeth" - are as severe as they are because our eternal destiny hangs in the balance. This is precisely where Mary's maternal intercession becomes so precious. She who pondered all things in her heart and never once doubted God's faithfulness helps us guard against that dangerous spiritual complacency. She keeps our hearts focused on her Son's faithful love, protecting us from the illusion that "the master delays."
The ultimate hope in Matthew 24:42-51 lies in verse 47's incredible promise - that the faithful servant found actively serving when the master returns will be put "over all of His possessions." This speaks to our glorious eternal destiny with God and connects beautifully to our Catholic understanding of the communion of saints. Every time we heed Jesus' command to "stay alert" instead of falling into the trap of thinking "the master delays," every time we serve others faithfully like the wise servant in verse 45, we're preparing for an eternity of joyful service in God's presence. Mary, our Mother and Queen, intercedes for us in this beautiful work of preparation. The blood that flowed through her veins also flowed through Jesus - she is intimately connected to our salvation in ways we can barely comprehend. Under her gentle guidance, we can become the kind of people verse 46 describes - those whom the master will find "doing thus" when He returns. With Mary's help, maintaining this spiritual alertness becomes not a burden but a joy, making our wait for Christ's return filled with hope and purpose.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
P.S. What a joy this reflection was to write! I simply couldn't let today's gospel reflection go by without weaving in Our Lady's beautiful guidance, she's such an essential part of how we learn to stay alert for her Son's return. I hope these daily reflections bring you as much joy as they bring me.
Behind the scenes, I'm working on something really very exciting, a book that dives deep into Our Lady's love and the mysteries of the Rosary. I'm also developing a completely original App that's been brewing in my heart for nearly a decade! I'm finally starting to figure out coding (sort of) and experimenting with bringing it to life. I'm having fun. It's incredible how God opens doors when the timing is right. My schedule is jam-packed, with virtually no wiggle room, but all these activities and all this work is an expression and benefit for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not for me.
The Lord has truly blessed me with the most wonderful, blessed circle of friends, some of whom are mentors to me - men and women, young and way older than me, each one bringing their own gifts to the mix. There's something very special about fellowship that just sparks creativity and makes everything more vibrant. God is so good!
