{"id":3619,"date":"2016-08-04T10:10:40","date_gmt":"2016-08-04T10:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=3619"},"modified":"2016-07-14T11:16:40","modified_gmt":"2016-07-14T11:16:40","slug":"commentary-on-19th-sunday-of-the-year-c-7-08-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-19th-sunday-of-the-year-c-7-08-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 19th Sunday of the year C 7.08.2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 Luke 12: 32\u201348 \u2014 We are Faithful or Unfaithful, Wise or Foolish<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

32 \u201cFear not, little flock, for it is your Father\u2019s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. <\/em><\/p>\n

Parable of Master Returning from Wedding<\/strong><\/p>\n

35 \u201cLet your loins be girded and your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!<\/em><\/p>\n

Parable of Thief<\/strong><\/p>\n

39 But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be <\/strong>ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

Faithful and Wise Steward<\/strong><\/p>\n

41 Peter said, \u201cLord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?\u201d 42 And the Lord said, \u201cWho then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.<\/em><\/p>\n

Unfaithful and Foolish Servant<\/strong><\/p>\n

45 But if that servant says to himself, \u2018My master is delayed in coming,\u2019 and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful.<\/em><\/p>\n

Application<\/strong><\/p>\n

47 And that servant who knew his master\u2019s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48 But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

32 \u201cFear not, little flock, for it is your Father\u2019s good pleasure to give you the kingdom<\/em>\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father\u2019s good pleasure to give you the kingdom<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus speaks tenderly to his disciples, calling them \u201clittle flock<\/em>\u201d. He loves them for many reasons, one being that being small they need his gentle care. He reminds them, for the second time in three verses, that God is their \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 12: 30 and 32). God\u2019s will and \u201cgood pleasure<\/em>\u201d for them is that no one be lost and that all enter heaven.<\/p>\n

By using the word \u201cflock<\/em>\u201d Jesus describes himself as their shepherd who will guard, guide and nourish them at all times.<\/p>\n

In the verses prior to the words \u201cfear not<\/em>\u201d, Jesus told his disciples and the \u201cthousands<\/em>\u201d gathered with them (Lk. 12: 1) that they are to have no worries even about the essentials of life such as food and clothing, because \u201cyour Father knows that you need them<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 12: 30). Now Jesus states that their Father is prepared to give them the kingdom of heaven. If he is willing and prepared to give them this treasure it is obvious that lesser things, such as food and clothing, will be given as they need them.<\/p>\n

That God is \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d is a major theme in Luke\u2019s Gospel (Lk. 2: 49; 6: 36; 11: 2; 12: 32; 15: 11\u201332; 22: 42, 49; 23: 44, 46; 24: 49)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

33 Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Sell your possessions, and give alms<\/em>\u201d \u2014 To trust in God their Father means that they need nothing and so they should sell their possessions and \u201cgive<\/em> alms<\/em>\u201d. By giving to the poor those with possessions cannot reclaim what they give away freely.<\/p>\n

The word \u201calms<\/em>\u201d is associated with the word \u201cmercy\u201d. Jesus is reminding them that by giving alms they are sharing in the mercy of God who shows them mercy by providing for all their needs and giving them the possession of heaven. This is a major theme in Luke\u2019s Gospel (Lk. 3: 11; 6: 30; 7: 5; 11: 41; 14: 14, 33; 16: 9; 18: 22; 19: 8).<\/p>\n

\u201cprovide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus has just said that God\u2019s will for them is that they enter heaven. On their part this means that they must trust in God\u2019s providence. The disciple must have no other priority or security but loving God. Heaven is a disciple\u2019s \u201ctreasure<\/em>\u201d which he\/she must acquire. If one\u2019s \u201cheart<\/em>\u201d is set on heaven that will be a clear sign of how heaven is a priority desire. They then have to live and work to obtain the grace to enter heaven.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

35 \u201cLet your loins be girded and your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Let your loins be girded<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 the people in the Holy Land wore long robes which they tied up at the waist to facilitate movement in the legs when they worked. At the beginning of the Exodus the Israelites had to prepare by having their loins girt (Ex. 12: 11). Elijah girded his cloak for freer movement when he had to run (1Kings 18:46). Jesus calls for on\u2013going vigilance and readiness to work to greet the Lord on his return.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 In the present Gospel passage this is the first of nine references to the necessity of being vigilant (Lk. 12: 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47). This obviously is a most important point.<\/p>\n

They have to be alert by day and by night as the Master who returns might come at any time. This refers to Jesus coming from the Messianic banquet of heaven (\u201cthe marriage feast<\/em>\u201d) where he will go at the ascension.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The Greek word used in verses 37, 43, 45, 46 and 47 for servant, \u201cdoulos<\/em>\u201d, means one who gives a slave\u2019s service to the Christian community (see Rom. 1:1; Cor. 7:22; Gal 1:10; Acts 4:29; 16:17.<\/p>\n

Those who are awake at the Master\u2019s coming will be rewarded as he makes himself their servant sharing with them the Messianic banquet. This would be most unusual in normal life but Jesus is not basing himself on \u2018normal\u2019 life but on God\u2019s way of treating people. It is his reward for the fidelity and love shown to him.<\/p>\n

Later Luke will endorse this attitude: \u201cA dispute also arose among them<\/em> [the apostles] as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, \u201cThe kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel<\/em>\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The Jews divided the night into three watches or periods and the Romans divided it into four. Those servants waiting for the Master must be ready at all times, even the most difficult in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

39 But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour.\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Houses were built with hardened mud walls and easily broken into. Constant expectation and readiness to do the correct thing is necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon of man<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This title has several meanings. It can refer to a man, a human being (Lk. 9: 58). Jesus refers to his passion, death and redemption as being the work of himself as \u201cthe Son of man<\/em>\u201d. He attributes divine powers exercised by him as those of the \u201cSon of man<\/em>\u201d. He also uses it to refer to the Messiah.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

41 Peter said, \u201cLord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?\u201d 42 And the Lord said, \u201cWho then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPeter said, \u2018Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Peter addresses Jesus by his post\u2013resurrection title of \u201cLord<\/em>\u201d \u2014 the Master is coming from heaven and the Messianic banquet.<\/p>\n

Peter speaks on behalf of the Twelve, the Lord\u2019s \u201cstewards<\/em>\u201d, and asks if the parable applies to them alone or to all disciples.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the Lord said<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke the author continues to use the word \u201cLord<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus frequently answers a question by posing another question.<\/p>\n

The word \u201csteward<\/em>\u201d can refer to a person who is a slave in charge of the household slaves. The apostles and Church officials are \u201cstewards<\/em>\u201d who are expected to be servants or slaves of the Master over whom they have been placed.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus\u2019 answer to the question is that particularly those with responsibility have to be faithful in their duties.<\/p>\n

The faithful steward will be rewarded by being given greater responsibility.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

45 But if that servant says to himself, \u2018My master is delayed in coming,\u2019 and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018But if that servant says to himself, \u201cMy master is delayed in coming,\u201d and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Here there is a contrast with the example of the faithful steward. A disciple, like an unfaithful steward, may be tempted to give up the struggle to do God\u2019s will and return to his\/her former way of life without God. Examples are given: injustice to others, violence, gluttony and intemperance. There are echoes here of the previous passage where the rich man thought of no one but himself and abdicated all responsibility (Lk. 12: 19\u201321). Because of that he was called a \u201cfool<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 For a disciple of Jesus there is no greater punishment than being \u201cput with the unfaithful<\/em>\u201d. This means being excluded from the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

47 And that servant who knew his master\u2019s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48 But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018And that servant who knew his master\u2019s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus now replies to Peter\u2019s question \u2014 the more responsibility one has the more is expected from that person. Jesus did not answer the question directly by referring to the apostles but implying that as they have greater responsibility more will be expected from them.<\/p>\n

Two types of punishment are mentioned \u2014 \u201csevere<\/em>\u201d and \u201clight<\/em>\u201d. There is no explanation or description of the difference between these two. This could be a reference to hell and purgatory.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is very important to keep in mind when reading this section of Luke\u2019s Gospel that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and crucifixion and is using the journey as an occasion to train his disciples. Even what he says about himself is part of that training \u2014 as the master, so the disciple.<\/p>\n

The opening words tell us that he is a tender, loving, caring shepherd<\/strong>. He refers to the disciples as \u201clittle flock<\/em>\u201d. As shepherd he will protect, nourish and lead the sheep who are his disciples. He is on his way to die for their eternal salvation which means that they may possess the kingdom of heaven<\/strong>. In addition to giving up his life he is prepared to give up everything<\/strong> else, home, family, possessions, and that is why he can ask the disciples to give away everything \u201cas alms<\/em>\u201d for the kingdom. There is no proportion between what they will give as their own and what he will give them \u2014 their worldly possessions and his possession, the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n

He describes himself as \u201cmaster<\/em>\u201d of the house, the Church<\/strong>, to which he will return after his ascension. He refers to himself as \u201cSon of man<\/em>\u201d<\/strong> who is the risen and glorious Jesus who will come back from heaven to bring them with him into glory. That he will come is absolutely certain. The precise time of his coming is not known.<\/p>\n

He is the Master but he also is the servant of his disciples<\/strong>. His Second Coming<\/strong> will bring them to the Messianic banquet, a symbol of heaven and its joy and happiness. He has served them in life by working, suffering and dying for them. He continues his role of servant even in heaven.<\/p>\n

The final revelation he provides for his disciples is that he trusts them<\/strong> and expects them to live up to the responsibility he gives to both leaders and those led.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Disciples<\/strong><\/p>\n

In this Gospel passage what is Jesus teaching his followers about discipleship?<\/p>\n

They are filled with fear at the thought of what lies ahead of him in Jerusalem. They should not be afraid<\/strong> because he is their shepherd and master whose concern is for them.<\/p>\n

He begins by telling them who they are<\/strong>. Their first belief must be that they acknowledge that God their Father loves them. Like Jesus they belong to his house which is their testing ground for the kingdom of God. They are members of his flock and are his servants. Their destination is heaven. As Jesus is aware of his true and final home, so must they. They are to live lives in conformity with that citizenship. When he is ready he will return to them and bring them into his kingdom.<\/p>\n

Because God loves them and has given Jesus as their Good Shepherd they need nothing that is personal to identify them<\/strong> as special and different from others. What is spiritual will last forever; what is material, such as personal possessions, can blind them from seeking the spiritual and obscure the real sacred value and true wealth.<\/p>\n

Rather than seek and strive after the false security of worldly possessions they, like Jesus, should give away their wealth and be compassionate like Father and Son<\/strong>. This means that they have to have absolute trust in God<\/strong> their Father. Worldly riches remove any need to trust God. Detachment from possessions<\/strong> makes following God so much easier. It helps disciples to concentrate on God\u2019s love and his kingdom.<\/p>\n

Constant alertness, watchfulness and vigilance<\/strong> are terms that express the essential maintenance of faith in the coming of the true treasure they are offered and the effort that is required to persevere in awaiting the Second Coming of the Son of man and his kingdom.<\/p>\n

Jesus expects them to be responsible<\/strong> as they wait to be taken into heaven. The blessed servant is the one who, even in the master\u2019s absence, acts responsibility as he would when the master is present \u2014 simple life\u2013style, compassionate, fraternal care for the needs of others, fidelity to God\u2019s will, absolute trust in God<\/p>\n

Should they not be responsible they can expect to be judged<\/strong> accordingly. Their punishment depends on their degree of irresponsibility.<\/p>\n

Such is discipleship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 Luke 12: 32\u201348 \u2014 We are Faithful or Unfaithful, Wise or Foolish Introduction 32 \u201cFear not, little flock, for it is your Father\u2019s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3620,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3619"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3626,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3619\/revisions\/3626"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}