Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Luke 12:49 -53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father, 
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”

What is this “fire” that Jesus is referring to? 

The “fire” of God’s red-hot love. 

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If you are in a good place spiritually, then that love feels like a “fire” in the best sense of the word – God’s love warms you and illumines your path.

As the Psalmist says, “Your word is a lamp for my path and a light – a ‘fire’ – for my steps.” 

God’s love can also fill your heart with fiery passion. As the prophet Jeremiah says, “Your WORD is like a fire in my bones; woe to me if I do not preach it!” 

We also see this divine fire at work in the lives of the Saints, who put God first in their lives.

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But, if you’re not in a good place spiritually, then that same divine “fire” can feel painful as it purifies your heart.

For example, the first day of sobriety can feel like fire to an addict. But what is God doing? Burning away an addiction that once held you captive.

Telling the truth can feel like fire to someone caught in a lie. But God is burning away dishonesty.

Forgiving a deep-seeded wound can feel like fire to someone who’s been nursing a grudge. But God is burning the anger out of your heart.

An act of humility can feel like fire to our ego. But humility is always superior to pride.

Honesty, self-control, forgiveness, and humility … these are all good things! They’re necessary for spiritual growth and healthy relationships. But sometimes they burn; that’s the purifying hand of the Lord at work in our lives.

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Where in my heart do I need that divine fire?

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“I have come to set the earth on fire,” the Lord says. Meaning, “I have come to purify.” May it begin with me.

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Image credits: (1) Science News (2) Bishop Robert Baron, X (3) Pinterest

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Gospel: Luke 12: 29-48

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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Why does Jesus refer to himself as a “thief” in today’s Gospel?

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“If the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming,” he says, “he would not have let his house be broken into. You must also be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Thieves are threatening figures. They steal; take; pilfer what isn’t theirs. But Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life. He doesn’t steal.

So, why would he refer to himself as a “thief?”

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It depends upon who you ask.

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Remember the story of the rich young man.

One day he approached Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

Jesus, “looking at him, loved him, and said, ‘You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, then and come follow me.’”

But the man walked away sad, “for he had many possessions.”

To him, Jesus felt like a thief, because he was laying claim to the man’s riches; his freedom; even his future. He was teaching the rich young man that everything – even his life – belongs to God.

A similar lesson is being shared with the crowds in today’s Gospel. They are nearly trampling one another underfoot, eager to listen to Jesus.

Weeding out those who are serious about following him from those who are not, Jesus makes the standard of discipleship clear: he wants us to place everything we have and are into in his hands.

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How does such a demand make me feel? Is Jesus a thief or a friend?

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I suppose it depends upon who you ask.

What do you say?

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Image credits: (1) Scripture Way (2) The Glory of His Grace, WordPress (3) Wyoming Department of Health

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Gospel: Luke 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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At the time of Christ, the night was divided into three different parts – the first, second, and third watch.

Once the sun fell, soldiers would literally pace back and forth along the perch of the city walls looking for thieves or invading armies.

The third watch was always the hardest post, because it lasted from roughly 2 – 6 am, the darkest part of the night.

Anyone who’s ever had to stay awake that long knows how hard it is. As the night drags on, you must become more and more focused; otherwise, you’ll succumb to sleep.

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This is the type of vigilance the Lord asks of us spiritually in today’s Gospel. Live as if Jesus is coming by the end of the night.

Statistically speaking, that’s highly unlikely. It’s already been almost 750,000 days since Jesus first spoke of his return!

Still, he wants us to, “Be alert! Stay awake!” Act as if his judgment is on the way.

So, how should we prepare for the Lord’s return?

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Personally, I’d want to resolve any conflict; forgive wrongdoings; offer an apology wherever needed; and go to confession. 

I’d tell my family and friends that I love them; thank those who’ve been good to me; hug a friend; and say a prayer.

“Blessed are those servants,” Jesus says, who do these things.

Even if the Lord is delayed in his return, seeking reconciliation, extending forgiveness, praying, and being grateful for those whom we love, is the healthiest way to live.

Whether it’s tonight, or seemingly forever away, come Lord Jesus. We will be ready.

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Image credits: (1) YouTube (2) Unsplash (3) Reading Acts, WordPress