This coming Sunday is the 19th Sunday, Year C. In yesterday’s post we noted how Jesus points to the past (the Exodus) as a model of what it means to be prepared. Now, having taught about the right use of wealth (vv.22-34, our “missing” text), Jesus reinforces those teachings with the reminder that earthly things are transient at best, but the return of Jesus is certain. In our day, we immediately think in terms of the second coming. But for Jesus’ first century listeners that would be incomprehensible. What is more likely is these verses represent a warning for the impending crisis associated with the crucifixion.  While other meanings may accrue, there is a permanent application in that Jesus’ followers must always be ready to face the crises of life in the spirit of true discipleship. This of course only is the beginning of the meaning and in no way exhausts the richness for clearly there is a reference to the second coming. This passage also fits within a larger theme of watchfulness (12:1-13:9) that is connected not only in theme but in using “masters and servants” as a metaphor for learning and reflection.

“be like servants…ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks”

Be it crisis or second coming, central to the test of faith is the challenge of constant readiness for the Master’s return – either in the parousia or in the Spirit. In several ways Jesus emphasizes that the time of the return will be a surprise – the return of the master from a wedding and the coming of a thief whose arrival is not certain. The examples highlight a constant preparedness – even during the long watches of the night (v.38).

This coming Sunday is the 19th Sunday, Year C. In yesterday’s post we noted that there was a Lukan passage “skipped over” in the Sunday gospel readings. The passage formed a nice bridge between “what matters to God” and “readiness.” Our gospel text picks up the theme of “preparedness” as it is sounded from the beginning of the text: “Gird your loins and light your lamps” Here the motif is raised through the use of two metaphors for readiness. The first—literally, “let your loins be girded”—borrows language from instruction to Israel regarding the Passover (Exod 12:11); they were to eat with “loins girded”—that is, with their long robes belted up in order to free the feet for action.

One also wonders if we are to call to mind more details of the Passover reference. The Passover meal was prepared without any trace of leaven (e.g., Exod 12:8), suggesting a further connection with Jesus’ opening remarks in v 1 of this same chapter. There he instructed his disciples to watch out for the “leaven of the Pharisees.” As we have seen, this “leaven” is manifest in the Pharisees’ fundamental misunderstanding of God’s purpose, their incapacity to discern the authentic meaning of the Scriptures and, therefore, their inability to present anything other than the impression of piety. Continuing to use the Pharisees as a foil against which to sketch the nature of genuine faithfulness to God, Luke now adds that the Pharisaic mind-set that must be avoided is represented in a lack of vigilance and preparedness for the redemptive coming of God.

As Joel Green notes [560] “The second metaphor is also one of readiness, but draws more deeply on the imagery of light and darkness manifest in the Lukan narrative more pervasively. Accordingly, disciples are to identify with “the dawn from on high … [who] will give light to those who sit in darkness” (1:78–79), ready for service in the conquest of darkness, the power of Satan (Acts 26:18). The sort of alertness Jesus counsels is not understood best as a set of activities but rather as a state of mind and heart. Disciples are to be the kind of people who are always on the alert.”

Image credit: G Corrigan | CANVA | CC-0

This coming Sunday in the 19th Sunday in Lectionary Cycle C. Our Sunday gospel follows after the Parable of the Rich Fool (18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 12:13-21). Unfortunately, the passage in between (vv.22-34) is not used for a Sunday gospel – yet it carries an important context for our passage and serves as a bridge between the lesson of the rich fool and our text which seems to speak of the second coming of the Son of Man and the judgment that awaits.

²² He said to (his) disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds! ²⁵ Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your lifespan? ²⁶ If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? ²⁷ Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them. ²⁸ If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? ²⁹ As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry anymore. ³⁰ All the nations of the world seek for these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides. ³² Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.  (Luke 12:22-24)