Much will be required...

Luke 12:35  "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36  be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37  Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38  If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39  "But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." ..........

Luke 12:48............... From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. 49  "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50  I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51  Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52  From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53  they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

In this section of his Gospel Luke stresses that those who follow Jesus will be held responsible for their lives. We are to be sensitive to the accountability that goes with discipleship: we are dressed for action, with lamps lighted, and an acceptance that this might test family loyalties.

Following the way of Jesus is not a hobby or an optional extra when one has nothing better to do.  It is a costly commitment that will demand every ounce of creative energy we possess.  And I would not have it any other way.

Ordinary 32 / Pentecost +25

54 A Resurrection People

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 329.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.