August 11, 2019

Ninteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

• Wisdom 18:6-9
• Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
• Luke 12:32-48

Keep Your Lamps Burning

Reflection written by Vince Herberholt, member Faith Justice Commission

Okay, I get that we need to be ready for the Master’s return.  We have been waiting for that to happen for over 2,000 years.  So we light the candles, gird our loins (tighten up our britches) and wait in expectation for the coming of Son of Man.  Interesting that in the first part of this reading when the master comes, the roles reverse and the master becomes the servant – different from other Bible stories filled with judgement, sheep and goats.  And this vision of the Master is much more in line with how I see God as loving Parent, Sibling, and Spirit.  In the words of John Shea, “God feeds us, serves our well being and fill[s] us abundantly,”  if we are faithful and ready to receive God into our life.

Sometimes I think we lose sight of God’s abundance and continuing involvement in our lives.  After all as mentioned before, we have been waiting a long time for God’s return.  We overlook the gift of abundant life and extinguish our lamps, loosen our britches and fall sleep in the overfilled comfort of a self-absorbed existence.  An existence that threatens our faith and uses up the riches of our common home.  Then comes the knock at the door, the return of the Master and the rest of the story.

In the second part of the Gospel story, we see an alternative view of the Master who has surprised the servant left in charge.  For many reasons, among them the delay in the Masters return, the servant has:

• relaxed his alert,
• distracted himself with food and alcohol,
• become lazy in his assigned preparations and
• abused and neglected his responsibility for others in his care.

The story concludes with the servants ignominious punishment for failing to honor the will of the Master.

It is clear that the Master had and has expectations that those left in charge would not just wait for the Master’s return but would take responsibility for the property – the kingdom –  according to the Master’s will and example.  Put in Jesus’ terms those expectations are blended together in the words in Matthew 6:10, “Pray in this way:  …Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  We are looking at a heaven that embodies:  peace, love, hope, justice and inclusion.

Well that’s pretty clear as far as I am concerned.  As servants and followers of Jesus we are called to expectantly wait for Jesus’ return by helping create God’s kingdom on earth where we share God’s abundant generosity to our neighbors.  We are called/invited to do this by joining in Jesus’s vision and ministry best expressed in Jesus’ words in Luke 4:16-21.  [The Lord] has anointed me to:

• bring good news to the poor.
• proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
• let the oppressed go free, [and]
• proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

It’s time to build that kingdom.

Questions for reflection: 

• In the Gospel story when the Master reverses roles and waits on his servants, Are you able to take that in and how does it affect you?  Do you feel responsibility to do the same?
• How do you experience your relationship with the Master?  A Member of the Flock?Servant?  Prudent Steward?  All of the above?  How do you feel about the relationship that most resonates with you?
• Where are you in waiting for the masters return?  Are you prepared or preparing?
• How do you view the statement God’s Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven?  Do you feel any responsibility for making that happen.