"Seek first the kingdom of God" may begin to sound like a truism unless its meaning is refreshed in the disciples' mind. In Luke 12:32-48, Jesus helps his disciples take this command to heart. Read the relevant article here.
1. "Do not be afraid, little flock..." To better understand vv. 32-33, read vv. 22-31. Seen within the context of these latter verses, why do you suppose Jesus tells the disciples not to worry?
- An Exercise
- Try to review the previous Sundays' liturgical selections from Luke and look for passages
- where Jesus refers to his disciples as weak and small
- where Jesus thinks of his disciples are privileged before the eyes of God
- where working for the kingdom requires that one travel "light", i.e. without the baggages that one carries with him ordinarily
2. "Gird your loins and light your lamps..." These phrases are ordinarily heard in Advent readings. Seen within the context of vv. 35-40, what does this mean?
- An Exercise
- The parable in vv. 36-50 echoes other servant parables in other gospels. Try to enumerate them. Why do you suppose the disciples are compared to servants? (Hint: Servants are in a way like soldiers. Their work requires them to ... (Finish the statement.)
3. "Blessed is that servant..." Read vv. 42-48.
- In your own words, give Jesus' answer to Peter.
- If your faith community is a household where you are all servants of this master who has gone to a wedding and who will be returning at a time unappointed, what does being a "faithful servant" mean? Give specifics. (E.g. Those who are married should perform their job of forming their children in the faith, etc.)
- Why do you suppose does Jesus use the image of a drunken and violent mayordomo as a description of the untrustworthy servant? How does this apply
- to your faith community?
- to your household?
- to yourself?
