The gospel for the upcoming 22nd Sunday (Year C) is taken from the Gospel of Luke. On the journey to Jerusalem one of the principal themes has been that of discipleship. Much of Luke 12 attends to that theme especially in terms of preparedness and service.  As Luke’s gospel narrative moves ahead, Jesus continues to teach about the nature of discipleship (see, judge, and act), the urgency of the decision to become a faithful and prudent disciple, and that our decisions and actions have consequences in terms of the kingdom of heaven. To that end, here is the recent progression of Sunday gospels. You’ll notice there are gaps and skips. 

Among the portions missing from the Sunday gospels are

• Jesus’ call to read the signs of the times as well as one reads the weather in order that one may judge rightly (12:54-59)
• The parable of the fig tree that is permitted to remain in the vineyard for another season even though it has not yet produced fruit (13:1-9)
• A healing of a woman, afflicted for 18 years, who was healed on the Sabbath that Jesus might again teach the meaning of the kingdom of God (13:10-17)
• The parable of the mustard seed (13:18-21)
• The lament of Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness (13:31-35)
• A healing on the Sabbath at table (14:2-6)
• The parable of the great feast (14:15-24)
• The cost of discipleship and the necessity of preparations (14:25-35)

Some of the verses missing from Sunday gospels are well covered in the gospels of daily Mass, but there are some great images (reading the signs of time, the fig tree, and others) that would be great to have for Sunday homilies. 

That being said, one does well to remember and understand that these verses come after Jesus exhortation to strive to enter that place where are gathered “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God” (13:28) (from last Sunday’s gospel) and before the parable of the great feast (14:15-24) which speaks to the OT image of the kingdom of God as likened to a great banquet. The placement points out that the attitudes of discipleship in this life are reflected in the banquet of the kingdom of God.

This week’s gospel is at table. As Johnson [Luke, 223] notes: “If Jesus eats a meal with a Pharisee on the Sabbath, there surely will be conflict! During the meal Jesus addresses a fundamental attitude that is a constituent portion of discipleship: humility.  This is not a new topic addressed to his disciples.  Consider Luke 9: 

⁴⁶ An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side ⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” 

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Image credit: Jesus at Supper | Caravaggio (1606) | National Gallery London | PD-US