There is a message to the Catholic clergy in Today’s Reading. Peter, himself, asks for whom it is meant, the leaders of The Church or others. The answer seems clear. Today, we may have a different perspective of Luke 12: 39-48
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward (Catholic Bishops and priests) whom the master will put in charge of his servants (Catholic priests) to distribute the food allowance at the proper time (provide Holy Communion)? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, (the Bishop or priest who sins or allows sins) then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful (send the sinful clergyman to perdition).
That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Sinning bishops will be punished more than sinful priests, deacons, sisters, and brothers.)
Is further explanation necessary?
