Luke 12:33-48: Being Prepared
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Today’s Noontime begins and ends with two sayings or two mantras we might allow to hum within when we feel ourselves slipping onto a byway rather than the straight road to Christ. Our treasure lies in what we store. And those who have been given much have much to return. Both of these refrains call us to think about what serve us well: relationships that have meaning and depth and significance, relationships that are eternal.
In this chapter of his story, Luke records many sayings and stories of Jesus that speak to us about the importance of being prepared for God’s arrival. Jesus asks us to think about how we spend our time. What do we labor to store up? Goods? Memories? Works? Fruit of our labor? And once stored, what do we do with our treasure? Keep it? Divide it? Dole it out? Share it?
We are asked to prepare ourselves so that once we arrive at the feast we will not be escorted from the party as was the unprepared guest in Matthew 22 who had come to celebrate but was unprepared. We are asked to be faithful, hopeful and loving. We are asked to witness, to watch and to wait. We are asked to be prepared, just as we are with our burglar alarms, our bank accounts and our degrees and awards. We are asked to tend to the work that matters, the work of kingdom-building.
From last evening’s MAGNIFICAT prayer we might gain some insight and strength as we pray:
For those whose works of love meet opposition: protect them from discouragement and harm.
For those whose fidelity is assailed by criticism: defend them from the temptation to abandon their commitment to the Gospel.
For those who have died at the hands of persecutors: raise them up in joy.
We do well to help one another in the pilgrimage we make together.
We do well to lay up stores of good works for the treasure house.
We do well to share the gifts we are freely given because . . . where our treasure lies, that is where we spend eternity . . . what we have, we are given to share . . . and once shared, this rich abundance goes out to return a hundred fold. We do well to be prepared.
Adapted from a reflection written on May 25, 2009.
Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Evening.” MAGNIFICAT. 25.5 (2009). Print.
Image from: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/where-is-your-treasure/
The Noontimes 