29th week in ordinary time. Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Scripture: Ephesians 3:2-12. Isaiah 12:2-6. Luke 12:39-48

There are three parables of Luke in chapter 12 and all of them touch upon being prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ. The theme of attentiveness and watchfulness are central to the chapter. After the parable of the rich fool who was busy about building his barns but forgot about the Creator, Peter asks whether the parable is meant for him and the other apostles or was it one of Jesus' parables for the public at large. Here we are like Peter discovering whether it is meant for us or someone else. It is easy to dodge challenging demand on the part of a friend or an authority figure. We, however, at least need to imitate Peter by asking the question of Jesus and ourselves, "Does this parable apply to me?' Fortunately, the answer is Yes! and like Peter we are called to be watchful disciples of the Lord who are attentive and await his coming at all times. There is no easy escape on our part for the parable is calling us to diligent service in the ministry of the Lord. Peter has asked the question and taken the initiative, but it is St. Paul in today's epistle who is actually showing us how to apply the parable to ourselves. Paul, of course, has the advantage of being a zealous convert to the message of the Gospel; he always was zealous as a Pharasaic Jew and would carry this passion for God over to his new found religion given to him by a revelation from Jesus whom he was persecuting in his members. He then applies everything he learns about Jesus from the apostles and the friends of Jesus to his own ministry. Thus he is well prepared for the mission to the Gentiles. All of this came to him through God's grace. He now is an apostle born out of due time but ever ready for the present time to live out his newly found way to God through Jesus. He attributes his knowledge of the Divine Plan to the Holy Spirit:" (a divine plan) revealed by the Spirit to the holy apostles and prophets." Now as an apostle and an iternant preacher and prophet he teaches us how to be ready for the Lord when he comes again.

So we can imitate both Peter and Paul as we reread the parable of the rich fool and the other two parables in chapter 12. Patient waiting, attentiveness, and watchfulness are the summons of the parable for us. Paul was already thinking that Jesus would return soon and he lived in a way that would not prevent him from being ready when the Lord comes. Are we ready for this? Amen.