The Lectionary speaks about the governance (“kingdom,” “reign”) of God, interpreting this major biblical theme in the light of Jesus. The first reading quotes Wisdom of Solomon, a lengthy essay in elegant Greek written for Egyptian Jews around the first century B.C. Like other literature of the period, it elaborates biblical traditions, in this case God’s governance in Exodus 11–12. Those chapters told of the death of the Egyptian firstborn and the sparing of the Hebrews’ firstborn by daubing their doorposts with the blood of the paschal lamb. Wisdom of Solomon underlined an important point about God’s governing Israel in Egypt: the same divine act that rescued Israel punished their enemies. The dual effect (punishment, salvation) demonstrates the divine origin of the intervention. God’s “judgment” established justice, that is,  liberated the enslaved Hebrews and punished their Egyptian servant masters.

It is this kind of divine intervention, upholding God’s reign, that Jesus is talking about today in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus describes the disciples’ conduct as they wait for the master in three images. The first (12:35-39) describes Christian life as servants waiting for their master to return from a banquet. They are “blessed,” fortunate, if he finds them alert and watching. Reversing roles, the master will serve the servants, a memorable image of the hospitality of God. In the second image (vv. 39-40), Jesus boldly, if somewhat bizarrely, portrays himself as arriving unexpectedly – as a thief! And in a third image (vv. 41-48), he responds to a question from Peter not by a direct answer, but by sketching an ideal servant that any master would love to find on arriving home. The ideal servant would not take advantage of the master’s absence by raiding the master’s liquor closet or abusing the servants, which would effectively destroy the household. On the master’s return, irresponsible servants would be beaten (proportionate to the level of authority abused). The lesson of all three images is that we as servants of the Lord are not to wait passively, doing the same old same old jobs, but to be true and loyal, doing what he ordered until he returns, proportionate to our gifts and responsibilities. “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (v. 48)

Richard Clifford, S.J., has taught biblical studies for 55 years, most recently at the Clough School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College, and has written many scholarly and popular books and articles.