Introduction: Be Attentive! Be Alert!  Be Watchful!

Jesus’ instructions on how to be ready for the coming judgment continues in the stories and sayings in this Sunday’s Gospel. This rather long reading emphasizes these essential faith themes: Be attentive! Be alert! Be watchful!

The first portion of Luke’s Gospel offers a stark conclusion to Jesus’ famous discourse on worry (Luke 12:22-34) in which Jesus tells the crowd not to worry about what they will eat, drink, or wear – but instead to seek God’ kingdom. He also cautions them to treat their possessions lightly and not be consumed by riches. This portion ends with this memorable punch line: “For wherever your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” 

What do you treasure most in your life? 

The remaining teachings in this Gospel passage are about vigilance, responsiveness, and faith. The first story uses the metaphor of a master and servants to describe vigilance and readiness for the end times. A master returning from a wedding would come with his bride. There would be feasting and celebration associated with this happy home-coming – which the servants should be prepared and ready to facilitate. However, the servants would not necessarily know the time of their master’s arrival. Accordingly, they needed to be watchful and ready at all hours. Jesus highlights this theme of watchfulness: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant at his arrival.” At the conclusion of this story, Luke makes this point: “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 

How are you preparing for Jesus’ unexpected return.

The final story of this passage also highlights the importance of being ready and responsible – but with a twist. Those who are given great leadership responsibility are called to greater faithfulness. A lesson in discipleship. How are you using your gifts?

I would invite you to take time to read and ponder the words from the Gospel of Luke 12:32-48.

What word of words caught your attention? What in this passage comforted/challenged you?

Further Questions and Reflections:

“Our Gospel reading challenges us in a different way than it did a first-century audience. Early Christians believed that Christ’s Coming would happen at any moment. To be ready, one needed to be focused on Christ’s Way and be free from all attachments. Two thousand years later, we still await that return. What does the Gospel mean for us today? As you pray with this Gospel, explore what it means for you to maintain a stance of readiness and responsiveness to God.” -M. Fleckman.

Prayer: Lord, grant that I may live in such a way that your coming at the end of my earthly life will not be something to be feared – but to be looked forward to with the most joyful anticipation.  

Deacon David

Deacon David Suley
St. Andrew Apostle Catholic Church
Silver Spring, Maryland

Published with Permission

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