The Tenth Sunday of Israel (G)

Luke 12:35-48

³⁵ “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. ³⁷ Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. ³⁸ If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! ³⁹ But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

⁴¹ Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” ⁴² And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. ⁴⁷ And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. ⁴⁸ But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Are we supposed to never sleep? Are we supposed to keep ourselves from dying? How can someone make sure that every hour of the day and the night their house is protected from this thief in the night? The Answer is clear, who is the thief. The thief is Jesus Christ our Lord, who is coming to judge the living and the dead. He will judge each of us according to what is expected, or how much we have been given.

Many people have abandoned their belief in God. Most religious or spiritual people in the world do not believe in Jesus Christ as the only way to everlasting life. These people are not ready for the judgment day. This world and its various cultures no longer expect the immanent return of the Thief. The Church itself has even abandoned this idea for the expectation of Heaven, and the proclamation of death as a friend.

Jesus does not call sleep nor death our friend, but an enemy. Jesus Christ does not claim alternatives to himself and his sacrifice for forgiveness. Jesus Christ does proclaim his return and judgment will come when it is least expected. Jesus comes to the entire world through his word proclaiming the only way to salvation.

Jesus gives to you forgiveness. Our Lord and Christ offer you to be his faithful servant. He gives you his Holy Spirit to bless your works. He will keep you alive in the night and bring you to eternal light.