Romans 6:12-18 / Luke 12:39-48
To be responsible means to be answerable or to be accountable to someone or to a group of people.
A responsible person is able to consciously make decisions, and behaves in such a way as to seek to improve oneself and also to help others do likewise.
Most importantly, a responsible person accepts the consequences of his or her own actions and decisions.
Servants are expected to be responsible persons, otherwise they will be sacked by the master.
In the gospel parable, the responsible servant is obviously rewarded by the master by being placed over everything the master owns.
Whereas, the irresponsible and untrustworthy and unfaithful servant is obviously punished.
And we too must see ourselves as servants of the Lord, and the 1st reading reminds us not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies or command our obedience to bodily passions or desires.
We must be responsible for our actions because we are accountable and answerable to God and also to the people who will be influenced by our actions.
God gave us this great gift of free will and choice. Let us be responsible in using it to do God's will and be obedient and faithful to Him.
God will reward us for our obedience and faithfulness, and for being responsible for what He has given us.