To be alert and to keep watch are the key words of this passage. The evangelist invites all members of his communities to be vigilant in waiting for the coming of the Lord.
 
What does to be alert mean? Why such insistence on the night? Why does the master, instead of coming during the day, arrive suddenly when nobody expects him? Who is the doorkeeper? Who is the master? Where did he go? What powers has he left to his servants?
 

Sa nakalipas na Linggo ating ipinagdiriwang ang Kapistahan ng Kristong Hari. Si Hesus ay muling babalik bilang Hukom at Hari. At sa Linggong ito, atin naman ipinagdiriwang ang unang Linggo ng Adbiyento, ang paghahanda sa unang pagdating ni Hesus dito sa lupa bilang isang tao. Nakipamuhay ang Diyos sa atin liban sa kasalanan. 
 
Handa ka na ba sa pagdating ni Hesus? Excited ka na ba sa pagdating Niya? 
 

Sa unang Linggo ng Adbiyento tayo’y pinaalalahan sa pamamagitan ng ating mga pagbasa na maghanda sa pagdating ng Panginoon. Hindi natin alam ang kanyang pagdating, kung anong oras o panahon. “Kaya magbantay kayo, sapagkat hindi ninyo alam kung anong araw paparito ang inyong Panginoon” (Mt. 24:42).

The language used in the gospel passage today can lead to extravagant interpretations (or even rants) on the end of the world and the punishment of God. It can also be reduced to the invitation to be always ready, because death can take us unprepared.

These interpretations stem from a lack of understanding of the apocalyptic literary genre that was widely used at the time of Jesus, but that is alien to our mentality and culture.