The Intended Audience

Gospel: Luke 12: 39-48

Peter asks Jesus an important question: are these parables and teachings meant for us alone, or for everyone? In typical fashion, Jesus does not directly answer the question.  He instead relates another parable about the tending of the master's house - how some servants are faithful to those duties and fulfill their tasks well, while another group of servants are abusive of the estate and of other servants, taking advantage of the master's absence.  

At this point we are tempted to interpret this parable in various ways.  First century audiences would see this as condemnatory of Jewish religious authorities who failed to care for God's kingdom.  In later times up to our own day many will see this parable as a condemnation of bad shepherds in the Church who have neglected the tending of the estate and abused others with their authority.  Such readings are understandable.

But what if we see the master's estate as our own soul and our tending of the kingdom of God within us? Now we have to consider our neglect and our own abuse of that responsibility.  We would like to blame others for the state of our soul, and we seek to do so with vigor.  The master dwelling within will not allow such shirking of duty.  The parables of Jesus are intended for the examination of our own lives, not that of others.