Friday, 13 November 2026
Saturday, November 14, 2026 - Do you believe that God will answer your prayer? Do you give in too easily when your prayers are unanswered? What keeps you from persevering in prayer?
To read the texts click on the texts: 3 John1:5-8; Lk 18:1-8
This
is a parable found only in the Gospel of Luke. While some focus on the judge
and term it as the Parable of the Unjust Judge, others focus on the widow and
so call it the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Luke introduces this parable as
a parable on prayer. The judge is described as a man “who neither feared God
nor had any respect for people” (18,2). It is difficult to imagine how such a
man can be worthy of being a judge. The widow is introduced as someone who is
going repeatedly to the judge for justice. The text does not state the nature
of her complaint, nor does it tell us why the judge refused to listen to her
for a while (18,3-4). The judge finally relents and decides to grant her
justice, because the woman is constantly bothering her and because he does not
want to be worn out by her constant petitions.
If
one focuses on the judge, then the point of the parable is that if the judge
who was unjust could grant the woman justice, then God who is just and judge
over all will surely heed the cries of those who call on him.
If
on the other hand the focus is on the widow, then the parable calls for
persistence in asking and not giving up or giving in.
The
final verse of this section ends with a question from the Lucan Jesus about
whether he will find faith on earth when he comes. Since Luke introduces the
parable as one, which speaks about persistence and constant asking, he may have
felt the need to end with the question of faith.
Prayer
can and does “change” the mind of God.
Thursday, 12 November 2026
Friday, November 13, 2026 - How would you fare if the Son of Man were to judge you at this moment?
To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Jn 1:4-9; Lk 17:26-37
This
section starts with the examples of the days of Noah and Lot (17,26-29). Just
as in the days of Noah and Lot the life of the people at that time proceeded
normally and people were going about their daily business until all of a sudden
the flood and brimstone and fire respectively destroyed the people, so it will
be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. This means that decisive action
is absolutely necessary. There will be no turning back. Lot’s wife who turned
into a pillar of salt when she looked back (Genesis 19, 26) is given as an
example of the dangers of looking back. When the Son of Man does indeed come,
then the choice of those who will be taken and those who will be left will be
made.
In
answer to the disciples’ question, “Where, Lord?” (17,37), Jesus answers with
an enigmatic proverb, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather”
(17,37). The point of this proverb here seems to be that just as it is sure
that vultures will gather where a corpse is found, as surely will the judgement
of the Son of Man fall upon on the wicked.
Decisive
action does not mean desperate action. It means steady and regular action. If
one is at any given moment in time doing what one is supposed to do, it may be
regarded as decisive action. A person engaged in such an activity is always
ready.
Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Thursday, November 12, 2026 - Instead of focussing too much on the afterlife, will you focus on life here and now?
To read the texts click on the texts: Philemon 1:7-20; Lk 17:20-25
The
first two verses of this section (17,20-21) are exclusive to Luke though
Matthew 24,23 and Mark 13,21 contain part of Luke 17,21. In Luke the Pharisees
pose the question about the future coming of the kingdom. In his response,
Jesus speaks not of the time when the kingdom will come, but about the very
nature of the kingdom. Since the pronoun “you” is plural, Jesus’ saying that
the kingdom is “among you” is unlikely to mean that the kingdom is within a
group of individuals. Rather it seems to mean that the kingdom is in Jesus who
is among them at that time.
The
next verse (17,22) begins the discourse of the coming of the Son of Man. There
will be a long period when the disciples long to see even a glimpse of their
deliverance (one of the days of the Son of Man). Though some will point here
and others there, the disciples must not be taken in. When the Son of Man does
appear he will be visible to all everywhere. However, before he comes, he will
have to endure suffering. The Son of Man who comes will be the Son of Man who
has suffered and been rejected.
Obsession
with the afterlife does not help us to live fully the life we have here and
now. Too many questions about death and what will happen after death result in
life passing us by. While as Christians we do believe in the life to come, we
are also instructed in many places in the Gospels that the life to come will
not be a totally different kind of life, but a life which will continue in a
fuller way the present one we have. Our focus therefore ought to be on living
this life fully at every moment of every day.
Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - How often have you thanked God for the wonder of your life? Will you do that today? How?
To read the texts click on the texts: Titus 3:1-7; Lk 17:11-19
The
miracle of the healing of ten lepers is found only in the Gospel of Luke. The
mention of Samaria at the beginning of this miracle story prepares us for the
Samaritan who gave thanks at the end.
Lepers
were not allowed to live within the city limits and had to live outside
(Numbers 5:2-3). They also had to cry out that they were unclean when anyone
approached them (Leviticus 13:45-46). This is why Luke has the lepers in this
story stand at a distance (17:12) and call out in unison addressing Jesus as
Master, which only disciples do in the Gospel of Luke. Their cry for mercy
would ordinarily have been a cry for alms, but in this case, it seems to be for
much more. When Jesus sees them, he issues a command that they go and show
themselves to the priests and as they obeyed this command, they were made
clean.
It
is interesting to note that the healing here, takes place after they obey
Jesus’ command. One of the ten on realising that he was healed began to praise
God and his action of falling prostrate at Jesus’ feet is an indication that he
recognised God as acting in and through Jesus. Though ten were made clean, only
one of them and that too a Samaritan who was despised by the Jews and regarded
as an outcast and foreigner has returned to thank God. The faith of the man
here, is shown not before but after his healing. This results in the man
receiving not just healing, but salvation.
Gratitude
does not come naturally to many of us. Before the favour can be done for us, we
are willing to do anything for the person who can do us that favour. However,
often once the favour has been done, we forget to thank. While the person
concerned might not expect any thanks from us, it is our responsibility to
acknowledge our gratitude by our thanks.
Monday, 9 November 2026
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 - Do you constantly expect thanks and praise for all the good that you do? Will you perform one act today without any expectation whatever?
To read the texts click on the texts: Titus 2:1-8,11-14; Lk 17:7-10
These
verses are exclusive to Luke and contain a parable. In the first part of the
parable the disciples are cast in the role of the master through Jesus’ question,
“Will any of you who has a servant…” (17,7). No one would expect a master to
ask a servant to sit at table and serve him, rather the servant would be
expected even after he has come from the field, to get the master’s supper
ready and serve the master. Moreover, the servant will not be thanked simply
because he has done what was required of him. At the end of the parable and in
the relationship with God, the disciples are cast in the roles of servants.
They must realise that like the servant of the parable they will also have to
do all that is required of them and not expect any thanks because they have
only done what was expected of them.
Very
few of us regard that we have been given the thanks due to us already in the
service that we have been allowed to provide. We wait for further thanks and
commendations. It is not only spiritual but also prudent and practical to do
what we are doing and expect no thanks at all. If it does come we accept it in
all humility, whereas if it does not come we are not disappointed.
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