Reflection for Wednesday 30th Week in Ordinary Time

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Today's WORD of GOD

Luke 12: 40 - 42

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?

Today's Reflection

Paul Regards His Christians as People who have Come from Death to Life, because the Risen CHRIST Dwells Within Us. The Gospel Imagines JESUS (the Son of Man) as having Gone on a Long Journey from which HE will One Day Return to Judge the World. These are Contrasting Viewpoints, between the “Already” of the Present State of Grace in which We Stand, & the “Not Yet” of Our Final Destiny. But as We Ponder These 2 Texts, Their Divergence Does Not Seem Quite so Contradictory. We are Advised to Live Daily, even Moment by Moment, as though the Son of Man were Already at the Door, Ready to Come in to Enhance Our Life.

Paul Advises Us to be “Servants of Justice.” This “Justice” Includes but Goes Beyond the Fair Distribution of This World’s Goods. It is Rooted in GOD'S Utter Fidelity, Being True to GOD'S Own Nature which is Life-Giving. On Mount Sinai Moses Encountered “a Merciful & Gracious GOD Rich in Kindness & Fidelity” (Ex 34: 6). As Servants of Justice We must Make Kindness & Fidelity Our Own Ideals, in Imitation of GOD'S Own Nature.

The Concept of Servant Recurs Repeatedly in the Gospel. The Wise Person is Meant 2b Just & Faithful in GOD'S Service, Trusting that This is how We were Meant to Live.

As Stewards of GOD'S Household, We Have Duties to Fulfil.

We must Show Respect to All & Care for People in Need. And of Course, to Act Responsibly in Caring for GOD'S Good Earth.

We may Not like Sudden Surprises. We Prefer to Have a Good Idea of what is Coming Down the Road & when It is Coming. But Sometimes the Unexpected Does Happen. The Experience of the Unexpected is Central to Today’s Gospel.

JESUS Invites Us  to be Prepared for Unexpected Encounters with HIM.

The Son of Man Comes at an Hour We Do Not Expect. This could Refer to Our Death, since Sudden & Unexpected Death is Possible. But the Various Ways HE Comes to Us in the Course of Our Lives can also be Unexpected. GOD may Call Us to Do Something Special, or Prompt Us to Take Some Path We have Not Taken Before.

HE can Encounter Us through Unexpected People, whom We would Not Think of as Messengers of Grace. HIS WORD may Speak to Us in Ways We have Not Heard Before.

The Gospel Tells Us to Expect the Unexpected. As Isaiah Says, GOD'S Ways are Not Our Ways.

What is Important is to be Open & Receptive to HIS Grace at All Times.

Good Morning

GOD Bless Us

Have a lovely day