REFLECTIONS TODAY
The Palestinian wedding celebration could last for several days and the deep into the night. The master in the parable is a man of means attending the wedding of the well-to-do and so may return late and in stupor. It is important that the servant be ready to open the gates and minister to his needs.
In this parable, Jesus reveals a surprising and extraordinary reversal of roles: it is the master who is waiting and serves the servants as reward for their watchful and attentive service. Jesus declares, “I am among you as the one who serves” (Lk 22:27). Though not included in Luke’s narrative of the Last Supper, the action of the master reminds the Christians of what Jesus did in John’s Gospel: “He rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist” (13:4-5). Jesus is Master and Lord vis-à-vis his disciples, and yet he does not call them servants/slaves, but friends/beloved. And this service of the Lord is an anticipation of their eternal reward: “I confer a kingdom on you... that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Lk 22:29-30).
FIRST READING • Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21
Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.
If by that one person’s transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous. Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOSPEL • LUKE 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.