The theme running through the readings of this Sunday is faith in God in confused and difficult times.
First, faith in the midst of persecutions ( Wisdom 18:6-9; then faith that God’s promise is real, in spite of the lack of human evidence ( Heb 11: 1-2,8-19) and finally, that friendship with God is the only treasure worth having ( Luke 12:32-48).
Read all of chapter 12 to make the meaning of today’s gospel clear. The context : people are flocking to Jesus; his disciples are caught up in the excitement of power and popularity, but as opposition to Jesus grows and menaces, the disciples are puzzled and fearful .
Jesus affectionately calls them , ‘little flock’, and tells them two parable stories. Rather than being blessed with wealth and possessions, they are to give them away; rather than enjoying the prestige of being a follower of Jesus, they are expected to serve others. Their ‘master’ expects them to be alert, ready to do his bidding at any hour of the day or night – but the ‘master’ turns around, ‘girds himself and waits on the servants’. A major counter-cultural challenge!
Was this passage read out in your church today? It is omitted in a ‘shorter version’. This is a pity. As followers of Jesus, we are all expected to be more concerned about others than ourselves. This applies especially to those in authority in the Church – ‘more will be expected of them, as they have been entrusted with more’.
At this time in our country and in the world, there is need for hope that the love of God will win out over greed, consumerism and war-making. The 8th August is the feast day of Mary MacKillop – a woman whose faith in God held her fast : to care for the poor and empower her sisters to do the same. It is also the feast of St Dominic worldwide. His faith in God and love of truth saw him empower others to do likewise. We also commemorate the atomic bomb falling on Hiroshima ( 6th August, 1945) and Nagasaki ( 9th August, 1945).
May we continue to pray for world peace and be peacemakers in our families and communities.
Rose Mary Kinne op
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