Gospel 

Luke 17:7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles:

"Who among you would say to your servant

who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,

'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?

Would he not rather say to him,

'Prepare something for me to eat.

Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.

You may eat and drink when I am finished'?

Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?

So should it be with you.

When you have done all you have been commanded, say,

'We are unprofitable servants;

we have done what we were obliged to do.’"

Reflection

In this gospel, Jesus continues to reveal to his disciples things that are not in their frame of reference. But Jesus makes it clear that the role that we are given in this world is the role of service. Not being served. The religious people at the time of the disciples were notorious for wanting to be served and not serving.

And so Jesus is making it clear, humility is what he wants from us. He wants us to recognize there is nothing greater than being called to serve, and then to carry through with service. It is the greatest role that we have, and it has great dignity and value.

Closing Prayer

Father, free us from our ego that often looks to make ourselves more than we really are. Give us the humility to simply be a loving, caring, forgiving human being. This is what the Kingdom needs in order to grow, to become, and to come to fulfillment. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples,

"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,

but woe to the one through whom they occur.

It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck

and he be thrown into the sea

than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Be on your guard!

If your brother sins, rebuke him;

and if he repents, forgive him.

And if he wrongs you seven times in one day

and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'

you should forgive him."

And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

you would say to this mulberry tree,

'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.”

Reflection

It's important to remember that Jesus’ disciples had not yet experienced the overflow of the Holy Spirit descending upon them, as it did on Pentecost. So they were always a little confused, out of sync with the teaching of Jesus. And this case, we see something that was so basic to the change from Old to New Testament, from justice to mercy, that Jesus always stressed the importance of forgiving and forgiving and forgiving again.

But it was really hard for the disciples to understand this. And so as soon as he says it, they say, well, increase our ability to accept this, to have faith in this, because it doesn't make any sense. And then he says the most important thing,

It’s not for you to figure this out right now. What is important is you know that this is the core of my teaching, and you will one day have the faith that you need to believe that I can be the source of all forgiveness flowing through you as I forgive you.

Closing Prayer

Father, keep us always in touch with the beauty and the compassion that is in a forgiving heart. Who are we to judge? Who are we to condemn? Bless us with mercy, a forgiving heart, as we continue to build the kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Originally aired on November 9, 2014.

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Gospel

Luke 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples:

The Pharisees, who loved money,

Reflection

When you continue to listen to Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees, you get a really clear idea of what is the poison of a thing called hypocrisy. To give yourself an image that allows you to believe the image, when other people respond to it positively, is the great addiction of those who were caught in this illusion of who they really are.

So, father, we ask that you would please open our hearts to who we really are. Help us to see our motives. Pay attention to the little things we do, because that will be a good indication you're teaching us, so that we will look at the bigger picture, how we are handling you and your message in our life.

Closing Prayer

Father, help us to pay attention to who we are, how we're dealing with ourselves and others. We don't often see the things that are somehow part of the routine, the way we deal with things. And we may be making terrible mistakes when it comes to the bigger issues. Bless us with that awareness. It's a gift to be conscious and to know and to see and to be able to change. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward

who was reported to him for squandering his property.

He summoned him and said,

‘What is this I hear about you?

Prepare a full account of your stewardship,

because you can no longer be my steward.’

The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,

now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?

I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.

I know what I shall do so that,

when I am removed from the stewardship,

they may welcome me into their homes.’

He called in his master’s debtors one by one.

To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.

Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’

Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’  

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;

write one for eighty.’

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

For the children of this world

are more prudent in dealing with their own generation

than the children of light.”

Reflection

It seems almost selfish to say we should be thinking about what is best for us. What do we really want? What do we really need? But what Jesus trying to do is to make clear that there is a thing in human beings that is wise enough to know, I must take care of myself. And Jesus is offering the very thing we need most to care for ourselves, and that is life with him forever. He’s honoring the man who takes care of himself and he’s warning us that when we don't pay attention to the gifts that God longs to share with us, we are doing something very foolish.

We're going to find ourselves in a place where we will not be able to survive.

Closing Prayer

Father, you continue to long for an intimate relationship with us where you can discuss things with us. We can ask you questions about our choices. You will always lead us to a place of abundance and fullness. Let us always follow you. Trust in you and do all that you call us to do. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,

but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,

"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So Jesus addressed this parable to them.

"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them

would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert

and go after the lost one until he finds it?

And when he does find it,

he sets it on his shoulders with great joy

and, upon his arrival home,

he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,

'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

I tell you, in just the same way

there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents

than over ninety-nine righteous people

who have no need of repentance.

"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one

would not light a lamp and sweep the house,

searching carefully until she finds it?

And when she does find it,

she calls together her friends and neighbors

and says to them,

'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'

In just the same way, I tell you,

there will be rejoicing among the angels of God

over one sinner who repents."

Reflection

I love when Jesus bases his examples on something we all know, something part of the human condition. If I lose something, especially if it's a value, my wallet, my credit card or whatever, I become consumed about it until I can find it. And that kind of high sensitivity to something is something that Jesus is using to tell us that that's the anxiety, that's the concern, that's the place he is when we are not with him, when we're lost, when we make bad choices.

He longs for us to come back to him, and he'll do everything he can to find a way to lead us. Just as we try to find the place where we left something valuable.

Closing Prayer

Father, help us to know your love, your concern, your focus. It's impossible for us to think that you, one God, can be intimately engaged in the inner life of every human being, every creature you've ever created, everything that you have in the world is part of you. Help us to fathom that great mystery and feel the closeness that you have with us, so we can feel the closeness that we want with you. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,

and he turned and addressed them,

"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,

wife and children, brothers and sisters,

and even his own life,

he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower

does not first sit down and calculate the cost

to see if there is enough for its completion?

Otherwise, after laying the foundation

and finding himself unable to finish the work

the onlookers should laugh at him and say,

'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down

and decide whether with ten thousand troops

he can successfully oppose another king

advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?

But if not, while he is still far away,

he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.

In the same way,

everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions

cannot be my disciple."
Reflection

The hidden message is that there is something demanded of us in terms of us responding to the life that God calls us to share with him. It is not without struggle, it is not without work. And one needs to sit down and figure out if they can do it. And what seems clear to me, he's saying, you can't do it.

You don't have enough to build a tower. You don't have enough strength to overcome evil. What he's trying to say, indirectly is, please let me open you to the resources that you do not see, that you do not feel, for they’re there constantly being offered to you.

Closing Prayer

Father, your desire to see us change and grow, participate with you in the salvation of all those around us. You are the source that is most important, keep us fixed on you, not on our strength, so that we can be the instrument you call us to be. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel 

Luke 14:15-24

One of those at table with Jesus said to him,

"Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God."

He replied to him,

"A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.

When the time for the dinner came,

he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,

'Come, everything is now ready.'

But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.

The first said to him,

'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;

I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen

and am on my way to evaluate them;

I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have just married a woman,

and therefore I cannot come.'

The servant went and reported this to his master.

Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,

'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town

and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out

and still there is room.'

The master then ordered the servant,

'Go out to the highways and hedgerows

and make people come in that my home may be filled.

For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

Reflection

It's interesting to see the reaction in the one who is offering this dinner party to his friends and how angry he was, how filled with rage. And it just underscores the longing, the desire that God has to reach us, to help us in all those areas where we're not really seeing, we're blind, we're not able to do the work.

We're crippled or lame. He wants us to be fed and nourished. And when he sees these people being tied up with ordinary things, I have to have a place to live, so I'm looking into that. I have to start a business, I'm buying some cattle. I'm married so he can come. It's always just a simple excuse. And how many times do we do that?

How many times do we not follow an intuition, a sense that God is asking us not so much to do something, but to come and feast with him? Feast in the goodness and the fullness and the healing power of the Kingdom of God.

Closing Prayer

Father, help us to know you, to know your longing, to know your desire, your passion for us. You don't want to lose any of us. You want us to experience the very thing that makes the difference between a life that is full and a life that is empty. Help us in our choices. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 14:12-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.

He said to the host who invited him,

"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,

do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters

or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,

in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.

Rather, when you hold a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;

blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Reflection

A banquet is a meal of great abundance. And it's an image of the kingdom of God that we are being called into. And what he is noting in this particular passage about the Pharisees is that they have a way of never being separated from their need for using people, needing something from people. And that's the life they were leading.

And everything about the banquet is, it’s an abundance of great food and great wine offered to those who recognize their poverty, their brokenness, their need. The Pharisees and scribes are far from the kingdom of God, and Jesus is trying to make it clear to all of us their mistake.

Closing Prayer

Father, bless us with an awareness of your goodness, your desire for us to be fed and nourished. Awaken in all of us our poverty, our longing for the most marvelous gift that you offer us. Your presence, your understanding, your compassion. It is truly what feeds the world and brings it closer to you. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Originally aired on November 2, 2014.

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