Gospel

Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages,

teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him,

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

He answered them,

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter

but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,

then will you stand outside knocking and saying,

'Lord, open the door for us.'

He will say to you in reply,

'I do not know where you are from.'

And you will say,

'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'

Then he will say to you,

'I do not know where you are from.

Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth

when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God

and you yourselves cast out.

And people will come from the east and the west

and from the north and the south

and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.

For behold, some are last who will be first,

and some are first who will be last."

Reflection

The audience that Jesus spoke to had a very clear idea as to how they would be entering the Kingdom of God. They would follow all the rigid rules and regulations of the temple, do everything that was required, and that would gain them salvation. And what Jesus is saying, no, no, that's not the way it is, you've missed the point.

The point is that I want you to allow me to enter into you, and we will together work for the kingdom of God. And your participation in that work is your salvation. So the idea that when they show up and God doesn't know who they are is a perfect example of the fact that the way in which we are saved is not by rules and regulations, but by an intimate relationship with the divine.

Closing Prayer

Father, you remind us over and over again that what we are here for is not to grow and change out of our own strength and power, but to surrender to the beauty of your intimacy with each of us. We're not here to earn salvation. We're here to joyfully receive it. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?

To what can I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.

When it was fully grown, it became a large bush

and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

It is like yeast that a woman took

and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour

until the whole batch of dough was leavened.

Reflection

Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God. But what is it like? And it's clear in this passage that what Jesus said, it's very organic. It's very natural. It begins small and continues to grow and enlarge and become more real. That's the challenge, each of us to take our part seriously, in how we evolve more toward this kingdom of God.

Each of us have our part. Each of our gifts moves the kingdom closer and closer to fulfillment.

Closing Prayer

Father, it's easy for us to not to feel that we're that important, or that we don't matter that much, but we do. Every one of us, as we continue to grow toward the kingdom, are lifting each other up. And the kingdom becomes more and more a reality. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,

and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,

and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,

James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,

Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,

Simon who was called a Zealot,

and Judas the son of James,

and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Reflection

There's a mystery that surrounds the divinity of God. There's a mystery that surrounds the identity of Jesus. Is he a man or is he God? Well, we know he's both. So what we see in so many situations, he is the model of who we are to be, we’re to be like him. And the beautiful image here is that whenever he has a decision to make, he turns to God, turns to the father.

It's like God is praying to God, and the point is well taken, because it means that we should always be focused on turning to God first. What is it I need to do? Help me to see what is really important.

Closing Prayer

Father, you know everything, yet you still invite us to turn to you over and over again, and seek your guidance. Seek your direction. Help us never to feel that we can do this work alone. It's our greatest weakness. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans

whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of’ their sacrifices.

He said to them in reply, 

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way 

they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!

Or those eighteen people who were killed 

when the tower at Siloam fell on them–

do you think they were more guilty 

than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?

By no means!

But I tell you, if you do not repent,

you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: 

“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, 

and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,

he said to the gardener,

‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree 

but have found none.

So cut it down.

Why should it exhaust the soil?’

He said to him in reply,

‘Sir, leave it for this year also, 

and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; 

it may bear fruit in the future.

If not you can cut it down.’”

Reflection

The people that asked the question of Jesus reveal a sense that God's response to sinners is that he wants to destroy them. And Jesus corrects their misunderstanding saying, God is not will to destroy a sinner, but they change that they repent, they face what they've done. And then he promises them that they will be given time and a way to nurture, to increase their capacity for goodness.

For fruitfulness.

Closing Prayer

Father, the condition of failing is part of the process of growing and changing. We are called over and over again to face the things that we've done that are wrong, and to find ways in which to nurture within ourselves the qualities that our sins have kept us from. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,

“When you see a cloud rising in the west

you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;

and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south

you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.

You hypocrites!

You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;

why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,

make an effort to settle the matter on the way;

otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,

and the judge hand you over to the constable,

and the constable throw you into prison.

I say to you, you will not be released

until you have paid the last penny.”

Reflection

Jesus is giving some very important advice to the crowds about conflict and division between us. He's saying that you have a choice, you can turn it over to the law, which is a binary world of right and wrong. Or you could open yourselves in this conflict to the Kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of understanding and patience and compassion.

By far one brings about unity, the other can only divide.

Closing Prayer

Father, there's a thing in each of us that can want revenge, or want to punish those that have harmed us. But your kingdom is calling us to something radically different. Keep us from our judgmental righteousness and open us to the beauty of your forgiveness and your mercy. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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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.”

Reflection

Jesus chooses a a radical image of fire to describe his work, and fire is seemingly something that we would say destroys things, but he's saying no, it's also a thing that purifies. It burns out all impurities. We cling to our impurities, our half truths, our lies. So what he's saying is that if you're going to engage in this work of the Kingdom, you're going to be engaged in a transformative work that feels like death.

And those who refuse to die hate those that are calling them to new life.

Closing Prayer

Father, the work of the kingdom is truly a work of transformation. Help us to be patient with one another as we, each of us, struggle with the transformation that is required of us not to judge those who resist, but just long for their transformation. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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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

Jesus is speaking about responsibility, particularly responsibility to care for those around us. When Peter hears it, he wonders, is this about us, the disciples? Or about everyone? And I think Jesus makes it clear it's about the disciples. They have a great responsibility to be held to a very high standard.

What perhaps is not yet clear to Peter is that responsibility that he carries will be able to be fulfilled, not through his effort, but through the gift of God dwelling within him.

Closing Prayer

Father, fill us with an awareness of confidence in whatever responsibilities you've given to us, that your grace will be there to care for us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Gospel

Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,

“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”

He replied to him,

“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”

Then he said to the crowd,

“Take care to guard against all greed,

for though one may be rich,

one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.

“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.

He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,

for I do not have space to store my harvest?’

And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:

I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.

There I shall store all my grain and other goods

and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,

you have so many good things stored up for many years,

rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’

But God said to him,

‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;

and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’

Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself

but is not rich in what matters to God.”

Reflection

The rich man had a decision to make. What do I do with all that I have? Jesus’ great concern is what we do with who we are, not so much what we have. And this is a clear indication that what Jesus wants us to do is to use what we have, meaning our gifts, our talents, and give them to people, not to use it for our own gain.

Closing Prayer

Father, we often identify our words with what we have. But the gift of who we are is the greatest gift we can share with one another. Help us to be generous in that work. Help us not to be focused too much on self, but on one another. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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