Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?”

I will repeat that: Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?

As the followers of Jesus, we ask that question a lot more frequently than we think. Is Jesus really talking to me? Are these instructions meant for me? Jesus doesn’t want me to do that, does He?

The simple answer to all those questions is yes. Jesus’ instructions and way are meant for me to follow. Similarly, His instructions are meant for everyone who decides to follow Him.

The unfaithful servant, the one who takes advantage, is the alleged follower of Jesus who sees him/herself as the exception. Well, Jesus didn’t really mean that for me. My life is different! God doesn’t understand what I have going on.

We may not want to admit it, but we do have occasion to think that way. In retrospect we do understand we are wrong in that type of thinking. Taking a step away, we might say to ourselves, how could I possibly say that. Why didn’t I trust in God and His way for my life?

St. Paul attests to the faith of Abraham and other of our predecessors in faith. He shows how Abraham trusted, how he kept his vision forward, not looking back. Paul especially notes that Abraham and others realized they were not going to see or experience the promise, that they held only a promise, yet they trusted: All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar.

We are given a key choice. Will I follow Jesus’ way, will I trust, will I do the work of the kingdom with daily joy and true celebration, or will I be downcast, thinking self-centeredly.

If our personal judgment tells us we are right, if we neglect to place our trust and faith where it belongs, especially since the promise has already been revealed to us, we are mistaken. In our Collect he heard: Set our hope fully upon the grace that is ours, so that we may inherit what You have promised. Let us do exactly that, eyes forward and trusting.