Augustinian Lectio Divina

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 11, 2019
Theme: Be faithful stewards of God’s gifts in the Christian Community
Gospel Reading—Luke 12:32-48

I. Opening Prayer (Sung)

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

II. Preparatio

Amid my talents and abilities, skills and knowledge, I consider myself desolate
and in need of God’s mercy and compassion. I ask God to help me pray
knowing that my capacity to pray is a gift from God. I enter into prayer in
humility and simplicity. I begin by slowly reading Luke 12:32-48. I focus on
the story, the words and conversations, the scenes and the characters … aware
that God could speak to me through them.

III. Lectio:

The Text – Luke 12:32-48

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do
not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth
destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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. 40You also must be ready, for
the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
41
Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?" 42 And the Lord
said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge
of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that
slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put
that one in charge of all his possessions.
45
But if that slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and if he begins to
beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master
of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he
does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave
who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted,
will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a
beating will receive a light beating.

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. (NRSV)
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IV. Comprehensio: Understanding the Word (Biblical Interpretation)

The gospel reading for this Sunday is a continuation of that of last Sunday’s.
We recall that the theme of Luke 12 is the internal and external oppositions that
will come the way of the disciples.

In our reading today, verses 32-34 continues last Sunday’s theme of

possessions as posing an internal struggle in the life of the disciples which
could lead them to sever their intimate relationship with God. Jesus
encourages his disciples to focus on the kingdom of God by giving alms to the
poor thus investing treasure in heaven.

In verses 35-48, Jesus narrates four servant parables underlining the role of
the leaders of the Christian community: officials must be faithful and not create
internal problems for the church. The Greek “doulos” or servant/slave, a key
word which is found in verses 37,43,45,46,47 refers to one who gives service
or serves the Christian community. Moreover the Greek “oikonomos” or
steward which is used in Luke 12:42 also means one who gives service to the
Christian community like a manager/supervisor or a person responsible for
persons, over food supply and distribution, and the use and care of another’s
property.

The first parable speaks of servants who are found ready for the return of the
master from the wedding anytime of the day or night. They will blessed
because the master will wait on them or serve them in his banquet feast. The
faithful servants or leaders of the community will be blessed by the Lord
himself.

The second parable tells of a master whose house has been broken into by the
thief because he did not know the time the robber was coming. He was not
prepared for the coming of the illegal visitor. Servants or leaders in the
Christian community, however, must be ready for the coming of the Son of
Man who will arrive at an hour nobody expects.

The third parable speaks of the wise and faithful steward who was left the
responsibility to be in charge of his master’s servants and to feed them at the
proper time. He will be blessed when the master finds him charging his duties
well and demonstrating care and compassion for his people by giving them
their meal at the proper time. Then the master will trust him all the more and
even put him in charge of all his property. Thus a faithful leader in the church
who does his work justly like teaching and announcing the Word of God and
even physically feeding God’s people will be given more trust and
responsibility by the Master, the Lord.

The fourth parable tells of an unfaithful and irresponsible steward who thinks
that the master’s coming is going to be delayed so that he abuses his male and
female servants, and indulges in eating and drinking lavishly and selfishly.
When the master comes at an unexpected day and time, he would find him
selfish and unfaithful and will thus be beaten or fired out. So too, church
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leaders, who are unfaithful and care only for their self-interest, will be made
accountable and cut off from their leadership role in the community.

Luke ends this section with a pronouncement saying: “Much will be required
of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one who
has been entrusted with more.” The leaders of the Christian community have
been specially chosen and have received gifts, talents and opportunity for the
ministry, so that the Lord requires faithfulness from them as servants or
stewards of his church. When they give scandal to the church by not feeding
the people properly (especially with the Word of God), not building God’s
kingdom in the here and now, by being unfaithful and irresponsible in their
leadership role, and when they cause trouble within the church, God will
chastise or punish them.

V. Meditatio

Choose a word or phrase that strikes you. What is it telling you?

Additional Questions for Reflection

1. Look into your heart. What is the internal conflict you find in your
heart? How do you resolve it?
2. Look at your Christian community. What is the external conflict in
the Church at the present time? How do you feel about it?

VI. Oratio (Let us pray)

“Lord, what do we have that we have not received from you? But
we act as if your gifts are our own and come from our own
capabilities. Lord, forgive us and give us humility not to think
highly of ourselves as if your gifts come from ourselves. Let us
realize and understand that the gift of leadership in the Church come
from You, our Father of mercy and goodness. For You bestow your
gifts and distribute them to whomever You will. May we be faithful
servants and stewards of your gifts in the Christian community.”
Amen (Prayer based on Virg 41-42)

VII. Contemplatio
We read the text again and continue to contemplate on the love of God for me
and his many self-revelations. We rest in God’s love and allow this love to
transform my heart and conform my ways of thinking to His.

(READ THE GOSPEL TEXT AGAIN)

Prayer:
“How then do I seek Thee, O Lord? For when I seek Thee, my God, I seek a
happy life. I will seek Thee, that my soul may live. For my body lives by my
soul; and my soul by Thee.” (Confessions, Book 10, Ch. XX, 29)
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VIII. Communicatio (Sharing of the Word in My Life and Community)

Having been touched by the Word of God, I now share the word, phrase, or
scene which touched me and through which God has spoken to my heart.

IX. Closing Prayer--Let us pray:

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; let not my soul faint under your discipline, nor let
me faint in confessing unto You, Your mercies, whereby You have saved me
from all my most wicked ways till You should become sweet to me beyond all
the allurements that I used to follow. Let me come to love You wholly, and
grasp Your hand with my whole heart that You may deliver me from every
temptation, even unto the last. And thus, O Lord, my King and my God, may
all things useful that I learned […] now be offered in Your service […].”
AMEN. (Confessions, Book I, Ch. XV, 24)

nmvargas/
august 5, 2019