Brothers and sisters, every day,
even on the worst of days,
when we’re not feeling up to it,
when we got up on the wrong side of bed,
when we’re wrapped up in self-pity and anger,
when all we can think of is our failures, or blaming others, even then,
Jesus is at this table to offer us His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sin.
Let us open our hearts to His love. I confess, etc.
The 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.”
After the Gospel: Luke 12: 39-48
“If the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming…”
Jesus’ parable is all about the unexpected nature of the Day of the Lord,
so He cleverly casts Himself, not as the shepherd, or king we usually expect,
but as a thief, a burglar.
.
Why a thief?
Well, does a thief ever make an appointment, send an announcement, or ask you to RSVP that it’s OK?
Doesn’t a thief strike when you’re not prepared, when you’re the most relaxed, vulnerable, when you assume everything is fine and under control?
A Thief! A Thief in the Night! is exactly how Jesus chooses to emphasize the absolute surprise regarding His return and the end of our earthly lives.
So what is Jesus the Thief out to steal?
He’s come to steal our excuses, our delays, our procrastination, our good intentions that never get realized. He’s the thief who comes to leave us empty-handed, with nothing to show for our promises and our good intentions and our resolutions. It’s not a pretty thought.
Brothers and sisters,
You have to admit, we’re prone to complacency.
We get hypnotized by Time.
When things continue around us day after day with no major disruptions, we slip into the mindset of the unfaithful servant: “My master is long delayed”.
Spiritually, we fall asleep. We don’t abandon our faith …we just drift off to sleep.
We procrastinate on reconciling with difficult persons,
we harbor resentment “just for now,”
we get overly caught-up with work and tell ourselves ‘I’ll really focus on prayer and building my relationship with Godtomorrow… when life gets less busy.’
No matter how Jesus tells it, this parable is going to get mixed reception.
It’s all up to us.
Those racing through life will say: “Nice story …next, please.”
Others may echo Peter and ask: “Is this meant for me… or for them?”
How many of us will honestly acknowledge: “Yes, Lord, it is I who need to hear this”?