Gospel: Luke 12:32-48

‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

Reflection:

Our gospel for today is from Luke 12:32-48. This gospel reminds us no to be afraid for He will be watching us from above. Jesus is encouraging the whole Christian community to put their trust in Him and not be afraid.

As the song “Don’t Be Afraid” goes:

Don’t be afraid, I’ll come before you always

Come follow me, and I will do the rest”

This song is a manifestation that Jesus will always be before us like what the gospel from Luke 12:32-48. Jesus also reminds us to me mindful making sure we are awake when the master comes.

This means that we must prepare ourselves for the coming of God. We must prepare because by the time He arrives, no one will know it. It will be judgment time and we won’t know it.

How many times did you practice not being afraid and put your trust in the Lord? As what Luke 12:32-48 is telling us, we should not be afraid as we are the flock and our master is waiting and watching over us.

There are many instances that Luke 12:32-48 applies in our daily lives. Example is during our very difficult times when we thought we are alone. We don’t have any resources to use and we are hungry yet God always watched us. His blessings are always never-ending and He uses other people to show it to you.

A Christian knows how it feels to be blest by God in so many littler ways. How are we going to thank God? We thank Him for the ability to wake up every day as this is a true blessing. We give thanks by the night and days He gives us. We give Him thanks for the good people around us. We give thanks by the food we eat and the work we have. We give Him thanks for everything we have.

This is what the gospel Luke 12:32-48 is telling us. Do not be afraid of tomorrow because even if tomorrow is uncertain, God is with us all along. – Clea | Helpline PH