Reflections on Scripture | Thursday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Then Peter said,
"Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?"
And the Lord replied,
"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
'My master is delayed in coming,'
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant's master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master's will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."

Reflection

Fire is often used as an image of transformation. Jesus knows that His message is radically different than everything that most people have thought about His Father and Himself, and He longs to correct that. But He knows that what's going to happen is people change their minds and enter into a new world, a new way of seeing God, it is going to divide people.

Some people welcome change, others resist it with all of their might. This division is natural. It should be expected. And what He's praying for is that the desire to change and to believe in a new way is so intense that it's like a fire is burning that cannot be put out. It's an amazing example of what we see all around us.

People divided over what is true.

Closing Prayer

Father, it is hard for us to change and when we go through that process we often feel that we have separated ourselves and people who think the way we do, even if there's a family member. Give us the courage and the commitment to know that if it's true, we must stay in touch with that truth and be patient with those who have resisted it. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross