Two short parables: both consist of an exhortation for readiness to welcome the final coming of the Lord. In the first we should be as alert in watching for the coming of the Lord as a householder would be to prevent his house being broken into and robbed. Like a thief, Jesus will come when we least expect him. We see this happen so often. In the second parable, Jesus compares us to a servant who has been put in charge of the house while the master is away. It will be well for that servant when the master unexpectedly returns and finds his servant diligently doing his job. On the other hand, the servant may think that there is no sign of the master (who had been expected to come earlier) and does all kinds of bad things. He will clean everything up before the master returns - except that the master returns earlier than expected. We can be tempted to do the same thing. "Let's have a good (that is, a morally bad) time now and we can convert later." It is not a very wise policy. In the long run, the really good life will always be better than one based on selfishness, greed, hedonism and immediate gratification of every pleasure. The wisest ones are those who consistently try to seek and serve their Lord at every moment of every day. They are the ones who are both faithful and prudent.