The point,
which Luke seems to make in this parable, is that responses to Jesus the king
have a decisive role in human destiny, for responses to him determine life and
death. There is no “safe” position. The only road to success is to take risks
as taken by the first two servants.
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 - How will I show through my life that I have opted for Jesus the king?
To read the texts click on the texts: 1 Mac 7:1,20-31; Lk 19:11-28
The parable in
the text of today is from the common source of Matthew and Luke known as “Q”.
However, Matthew (Mt 25:14-30) presents it differently. While in Matthew there
are three servants who are given five talents (a talent was equivalent to 20
years wages for a common labourer), two and one talent respectively, in Luke
there are ten servants who are given one mina each (a mina was about three
months wages for a common labourer).
The amounts in Luke are much smaller than
in Matthew. Though there are ten servants, we are told only about three. The
first of the three has earned ten minas with the one he was given, the second
has earned five and so these are given charge of ten and five cities
respectively. The third returns the mina to the king because he was afraid of
him and knew him to be a harsh man. After berating the man for not putting the
mina into the bank, which would have earned interest, the king commands that
his mina be given to the one who already has ten.
The point,
which Luke seems to make in this parable, is that responses to Jesus the king
have a decisive role in human destiny, for responses to him determine life and
death. There is no “safe” position. The only road to success is to take risks
as taken by the first two servants.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 - 1 Mac 7:1,20-31; Lk 19:11-18
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 - 1 Mac 7:1,20-31; Lk 19:11-18
Monday, 18 November 2019
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 - YouTube Reflections
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 - What one action will you perform to show that you have repented TODAY?
To read the texts click on the texts: 1 Mac 6:18-31; Lk 19:1-10
The story of
Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus is exclusive to the Gospel of Luke and is the
last encounter of Jesus with outcasts before he enters Jerusalem. It takes
place when Jesus is passing through Jericho and on his way to Jerusalem.
Zacchaeus is the name of the tax collector who Luke informs us is “rich” (19:2).
He desires to see Jesus, but there are obstacles to his desire. The first is
the crowd and the second is his own short stature. These are interconnected. If
there were no crowd, his short stature would not have mattered and if he were
tall the crowd would not have mattered.
Zacchaeus does not allow these to
hinder him and does what no grown man at his time would do: he runs. Worse: he
climbs a tree. Through this Luke indicates that Zacchaeus was willing to face
ridicule and being mocked by the crowd in order to do what he had set about to
do. He gives up his self-importance and dignity, because all that matters to
him is to see and encounter Jesus.
When Jesus comes to the place where
Zacchaeus he asks him to hurry and come down. Zacchaeus obeys instantly. The
reaction of the crowd is to grumble that Jesus would go to the house of a
sinner. Zacchaeus on the other hand responds with generosity and uses the visit
of Jesus to redeem himself. Jesus responds by confirming Zacchaeus’ status as a
“son of Abraham”, not because he was born one, but because of his repentance.
In the last verse of the story, Jesus pronounces salvation on the house of
Zacchaeus and reaffirms his own mission as Son of man: to seek and save the
lost.
The
desire of Zacchaeus to see Jesus is a genuine one. He shows it is genuine by
his willingness to overcome any obstacles that come in the way of his seeing.
He is willing to persevere and do all that is required of him. His perseverance
is rewarded by his meeting Jesus and being transformed by him.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 - 1 Mac 6:18-31; Lk 19:1-10
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 - 1 Mac 6:18-31; Lk 19:1-10
Sunday, 17 November 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019 - YouTube Reflections
Monday, November 18, 2019 - What is it that prevents me from seeing good in others? Do I want to receive back my sight?
To read the texts click on the texts: 1 Mac 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-63; Lk 18:35-43
The text of
today is also found in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, but whereas in Matthew
there are two blind men and in Mark the name of the blind man is Bartimaeus, in
Luke there is one blind man who is not named. However, what is common to all
three Gospels is that the blind man/men cries out to Jesus with a messianic
title, “Son of David”, and perseveres in his plea despite being told by the
people to quiet down.
Though the question that Jesus asks the blind man seems
redundant, it is necessary for Jesus to ask the question to indicate his
respect for the freedom of the man. While on the physical level the man is
blind, on the spiritual level he has insight because despite his physical blindness,
he is able to recognise that Jesus of Nazareth is also the Messiah, which those
who have physical sight are not able to do. Jesus attributes the recovery of
his sight to his faith.
We
might tend sometimes to close our eyes to the good that there is in others, and
we might also prefer to close our eyes to the injustice that we see around us.
We might close our eyes to the suffering of people around us and we might
prefer to close our eyes to the needs of others. Having eyes we might prefer
not to see.
Saturday, 16 November 2019
Sunday, November 17, 2019 - YouTube Reflections
Difficulties
in life are only difficulties if they are seen as such. We can instead look on
them as opportunities to show that we can persevere. We can look on them and
know that, no matter what the difficulty might be, our response will be one of
courage and fearlessness.
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