Lessons on the Road to Jerusalem

The lesson Jesus is trying to give us is that the good and faithful servant in all of us must carry. We must fulfill our purpose in life.

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4
Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Gospel: Luke 17:5-10

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100619.cfm

Before we get started, I’d like to ask how your homework went last week? Did you put yourself in the role of the rich man and write a letter to warn your family and friends? If you did, how did it go? Was it difficult? If you didn’t, why not? I’d love to read your comments. Head over to www.deaconrudysnotes.org and click on the title “The Sin of Pride.” At the bottom of the window, you will check “like” if you like the reflection, and you will also find a comment box. The only way I get better is with your honest feedback. But either way, I do encourage you to complete last week’s homework because it can be very helpful in our spiritual journeys.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is continuing on his journey to Jerusalem. All of these parables that we’ve been hearing over the last several weeks have been given while on the road to Jerusalem. So, after addressing the Pharisees in Luke 16:14-31, he goes back to instructing his disciples like we heard in the beginning of this series, Luke 16:1. When we look at these parables as a whole, there are at least four themes that Jesus is teaching: scandal, forgiveness, faith and service.

First, the word “scandal” refers to a moral stumbling block that leads others to do evil – or to sin (see Catechism 2284). A couple of examples of this are those who act like the dishonest steward we heard about a few weeks ago or the rich man who ignored Lazarus. He emphasizes that leading little ones astray, meaning those weak in faith, see Rom 14:1; or 1 Cor 8:9. Jesus says woe against these people. He says it is better that such a person have a millstone placed around their neck and they be cast into the sea than spending an eternity in torment, Luke 17:2. Therefore beware! He instructs his disciples that they should not be like the Pharisees who cause others to sin.

Next, he talks about forgiveness. We see the need for this in the relationship between the angry older brother and the prodigal son. The older brother in many ways reflects the attitude of the Pharisees who despised tax collectors and sinners, see Luke 18:9. We need to be willing to forgive those who hurt us, but this is much easier said than done, right?

Jesus teaches a different approach. If someone sins, we shouldn’t just ignore it or sweep it under the carpet. Scripture calls for a fraternal rebuke, see Lev 19:17; 2 Tim 3:16; 4:2. But if he repents, if he is willing to say, “I am sorry,” like the prodigal son was willing to, see Luke 15:18, 21; 15:7, 10, then we need to forgive. How many times should we forgive? As many as seven times in one day, see Prov 24:16; Luke 17:4.

For us as Christians and disciples of Christ Jesus, underlining our call to forgive is the petition from the Lord’s Prayer: …forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us…, Luke 11:4. In other words, if we are willing to ask God to forgive us our sins, then we should be ready to forgive others.

Now is this easy? No, and that’s why in today’s Gospel, the disciples closest to Jesus, those who will become the apostles, ask Jesus to increase their faith, Luke 17:5, and this is the third lesson coming from these parables. They don’t think they can measure up to the challenge of forgiveness, isn’t that interesting? Those closest to Jesus didn’t think they could forgive so easily. Sometimes we fall into the trap of feeling unworthy, but passages like this from today’s Gospel remind us that we are not alone in feeling this way. Jesus responds by saying that even faith as small as a mustard seed, one of the tiniest seeds around, has great power. He says this little faith can tell a Mulberry tree, which has an extensive root system, to be uprooted and walk into the sea, Luke 17:6. Jesus tells us that faith, no matter how small, can do the impossible. I think that’s a message we often overlook.

Finally, Jesus talks about service. We hear this really unfortunate story about the ungrateful master who has no sympathy for the work his servant has done in the fields. He tells him to go and make something for him to eat. The master expects the servant to just do his job – the job he was hired to do – no matter how tired he is. The servant must carry on. As disciples, we too must carry on. We must do what God asks us to do.

That’s the lesson Jesus is giving us. This is especially applicable in the missionary work that the apostles will carry out. We see many examples of that, like 2 Corinthians 4:5; plowing to spread the Kingdom of God, Luke 9:62, 1 Corinthians 9:10; tending the sheep as pastors, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 9:7; and giving them food to eat and drink in the Eucharist, 1 Corinthians 11:25-26. And of course, all these parables leading up to this lesson on service are happening as Jesus is walking to Jerusalem to face his death – and he knows it. The good and faithful servant must fulfil his purposes – he must do what he was created to do.

Homework! Having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and, in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following one question this week, in addition to finishing your homework from last week if you are not done:

As a good and faithful servant, what is God asking you to do with your life? Are you living your purpose?

I think our homework will help develop us to become better disciples of Christ Jesus.

One final request: please join in me in praying for the upcoming Pan-Amazon Synod which begins today, Sunday. Good and gracious God, we thank you for the many blessings you have given us. Please forgive us for those times when we have ignored our role as steward of creation and taken this world for granted. We ask that you send your wisdom to all our elected officials that they may step up the challenges of safeguarding creation for today and for generations to come. We also ask for your blessing upon all those who will participate in the upcoming Pan-Amazon Synod. May all participants be guided by your Truth, and may all of us be guided by your Spirit of unity, fraternity and love. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ. +Amen!

Well, that’s a wrap! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Notes:

The Gospel of Luke by Pablo T. Gadenz, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Baker Academic (2018).Catechism of the Catholic Church Number 2284.