36
Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks.
37
Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He'll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them.
38
It doesn't matter what time of the night he arrives; they're awake - and so blessed!
39
"You know that if the house owner had known what night the burglar was coming, he wouldn't have stayed out late and left the place unlocked.
40
So don't you be slovenly and careless. Just when you don't expect him, the Son of Man will show up."
41
Peter said, "Master, are you telling this story just for us? Or is it for everybody?"
42
The Master said, "Let me ask you: Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on time?
43
He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he's doing his job.
45
But if he says to himself, 'The master is certainly taking his time,' begins maltreating the servants and maids, throws parties for his friends, and gets drunk,
46
the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling potatoes.