The Gospel of Luke 12:32-40
Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
Let us Pray: Dear Lord as we face the fears of each day, help us be patient and respect the needs of others. We need to look in the right places for God’s Kingdom. To find solace in this turmoil world we face each day. To thank our Lord for each day we have. This we pray in your Name. Amen.
In today’s world fear is all around us. It seems since I wrote the reflection on this gospel three years ago we were starting to return a semblance of normalcy after the pandemic. Now these days we have some new fears, fears that people we know may get deported, fears about our democracy, fears about our own financial being, all these fears build on our minds and our whole society becomes anxious.
So: we need the words from this Gospel: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Again, we hear the words “Do not be afraid” Jesus begins with a tender assurance: we are not abandoned or overlooked. But waiting and not knowing can cause fear, especially if we are waiting for test results or any results that can affect us directly. Our minds move to the worse situations with disastrous results. When we are required to wait on a person or event, we do not have full control, this causes us to become anxious and deep down we become frightened. Not having control really frightens us. This passage invites us into a paradox: comfort and challenge. We are reassured by God’s promise of the kingdom but also tested by the wait for it. God’s pleasure in giving the kingdom reveals divine generosity and freely given. Luke emphasizes almsgiving as a sign of kingdom living, faith expressed through generosity. It’s not just about giving, but about reorienting our hearts toward eternal treasure. As Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Even though the kingdom is already here, marked by generosity, detachment, and readiness we fail to see it and we think we have to wait for it to arrive. I would venture t to reduce fear of waiting or fear of the unknown we put our fears aside and have faith in that God will guide us.
Let us Pray: We praise you for your insatiable desire to welcome all into your Kingdom. Thank you for casting aside our failures so we may be your flock, and you our Shepherd. Let our hearts be set on the treasures of your Kingdom—Forgiveness, kindness, justice, generosity, and peace. Help us use what earthly treasure we have to bring your Kingdom nearer. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 