Question on this week's Gospel

[Tim_Cleveland]

I had some questiopns about this week’s Gospel reading from Luke. I was at Mass twice this weekend (Saturday vigil and Sunday morning at two different churches) and neither time did the priest really “tackle” the Gospel. Certainly, they covered the topic of “To whom much is given, much is required.” But I have been thinking and thinking about the Gospel more from a Theological standpoint. I hope I can get some ideas here. Here are my questions.

1. What is the answer to St. Peter’s question? Is the parable about the disobedient servant for everyone or just a certain group such as the Apostles and their clerical descendants (priest, bishops etc.)?
2. Who does the disobedient servant who knew better represent? Those who fall away from the church and thence are beaten severely and placed with the unfaithful. The thought that the parable is for the apostles and their descendants in light of the recent abuse scandal. Is Christ saying that the priests who know better but act wickedly due for severe punishment?
3. Who do the servant who acted wickedly, but without knowledge represent? They are still beaten, but not severely, and then apparently not sent among the unfaithful.
4. Where are the unfaitful? Hell? This seems to make sense and the fact that the second type of disobeient servant is sent to purgatory (i.e. not beaten severely and not sent among the unfaithful)
5. Any significance to the fact that the master was away at a wedding? Or is this just sort of code for, he was away on personal business or vacation or something?
6. Interesting that the Gospel wraps up with, as I paraphrase, “to whom much is given, much is required and to whom even more is given, then even more is required.” Seems that there really is nobody who is not given much, though some are given even more. In other words, all of us have at least been given much.

Just wondering if any others are as perpelexed by this Gospel as I was…TWICE!

God Bless!

Tim

 

[NotWorthy]

I had some questiopns about this week’s Gospel reading from Luke. I was at Mass twice this weekend (Saturday vigil and Sunday morning at two different churches) and neither time did the priest really “tackle” the Gospel. Certainly, they covered the topic of “To whom much is given, much is required.” But I have been thinking and thinking about the Gospel more from a Theological standpoint. I hope I can get some ideas here. Here are my questions.

1. What is the answer to St. Peter’s question? Is the parable about the disobedient servant for everyone or just a certain group such as the Apostles and their clerical descendants (priest, bishops etc.)?

I would say it’s on both levels, with different levels of punishment, the more severe for the disobedient religious leaders.

1. Who does the disobedient servant who knew better represent? Those who fall away from the church and thence are beaten severely and placed with the unfaithful. The thought that the parable is for the apostles and their descendants in light of the recent abuse scandal. Is Christ saying that the priests who know better but act wickedly due for severe punishment?

I think you’ve got it. God has a special punishment reserved for those who abuse their religious authority and don’t repent. Do you realize why Jesus was so harsh on the Pharisees? They were supposed to shepherd the faithful toward God, instead Christ accuses them of making the Jews, “twice as fit for hell as they are”.

1. Who do the servant who acted wickedly, but without knowledge represent? They are still beaten, but not severely, and then apparently not sent among the unfaithful.

Could this be those who go to Purgatory? That’s certainly what it sounds like.

1. Where are the unfaitful? Hell? This seems to make sense and the fact that the second type of disobeient servant is sent to purgatory (i.e. not beaten severely and not sent among the unfaithful)

Jesus spent a lot of time talking about hell (I think more than He talked of the Kingdom of God). A dentist could make quite a killing in Hell what with all the gnashing and grinding of teeth.

1. Any significance to the fact that the master was away at a wedding? Or is this just sort of code for, he was away on personal business or vacation or something?

This is a theme used quite often in Christ’s parables. The wedding feast is revealed in Revelation (OK, bad pun for all you Bible Experts). This is the time between Jesus’ Ascension and our Judgment.

1. Interesting that the Gospel wraps up with, as I paraphrase, “to whom much is given, much is required and to whom even more is given, then even more is required.” Seems that there really is nobody who is not given much, though some are given even more. In other words, all of us have at least been given much.

Just wondering if any others are as perpelexed by this Gospel as I was…TWICE!

God Bless!

Tim

We’ve been given “Eternal Life”. That’s a whole heckuva lot!!! I think it’s time to return it 10-fold for the Lord!!!

 

[Tim_Cleveland]

Thanks, Notworthy. Appreciate the help.

Thanks,

Tim

 

[John_Hiner]

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

Dear Tim:

I take a more inclusive and damning view of the readings. I hope these comments will help the discussion somewhat:

1. What is the answer to St. Peter’s question? Is the parable about the disobedient servant for everyone or just a certain group such as the Apostles and their clerical descendants (priest, bishops etc.)?
2. Who does the disobedient servant who knew better represent? Those who fall away from the church and thence are beaten severely and placed with the unfaithful. The thought that the parable is for the apostles and their descendants in light of the recent abuse scandal. Is Christ saying that the priests who know better but act wickedly due for severe punishment?
3. Who do the servant who acted wickedly, but without knowledge represent? They are still beaten, but not severely, and then apparently not sent among the unfaithful.

There seem to be three servants described: the servant given charge of the family, the servant who knew his master’s will, but failed to do it, and the servant who did not know the Master’s will, and acted badly besides that. As with most Scriptures, these bear various interpretations and are useful to different people in different circumstances.

Most nearly, the servant in charge of the family seems to stand for clergy, pastors, parents and all who are given charge of others in a way implicating their salvation. The servant who knows the Master’s will represents all Catholics who have been catechized, that is all of the faithful who fail to do what the Church teaches. Those who do not know the Master’s will are all other men, especially those who are purportedly Christians, but also including all men, since all have the law written in their hearts but often fail to learn what it says. (See, Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, 16, 19.)

1. Where are the unfaitful? Hell? This seems to make sense and the fact that the second type of disobeient servant is sent to purgatory (i.e. not beaten severely and not sent among the unfaithful)

I have made a series of arguments that all three of those servants who are depicted as failing to do the Master’s will are damned. Those arguments are in a separate post:

Several arguments tend against reading this passage as a warning of purgation: . . .

1. Any significance to the fact that the master was away at a wedding? Or is this just sort of code for, he was away on personal business or vacation or something?
2. Interesting that the Gospel wraps up with, as I paraphrase, “to whom much is given, much is required and to whom even more is given, then even more is required.” Seems that there really is nobody who is not given much, though some are given even more. In other words, all of us have at least been given much.

The wedding feast is a symbol of heaven (see, Rv 19:7ff).

If one considers the law of God as written in the heart of all men, then it makes sense to say that all are given “much.” However, in another place Christ says, “For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.” (Mt 25:29).

I hope this is helpful in a more sobering vein.

Pax Christi nobiscum.

John Hiner

 

[Tim_Cleveland]

Interesting, John. I admit I will need to re-read all of your post to gather it in. I do have to say that I pray that you are wrong, because to soem degree, we ALL depart from the teachings of the Church to some degree. So even if there are levels of hell, and the degree to which you knew the will of the master and did otherwise determines which level you go to, it woudl seem that we all end up somewhere on one of those levels. Sad, no?

But on the surface, I think it is purposeful that only the one who knew the masters will and deliberately disobeyed was not only punished severaly…but also put with the unfaithful. Do you argue that there are some levels of hell that not only lesser in terms of punishment but also ares omehow, not populated witht he unfaithful. Or in other terms, are the less severe places in hell, somehow populated by the faithful???

I am persuaded more and more that purgatory exists, but it is considered a “light beating” in that the end result will be going to heaven. I think this way because i understadn that regardless of the level of physical torture that may exist in hell, it will be insignificant to the mental and spiritual torture fo eternal and unendung separation from God. Purgatory is necessary for those of us who need a light beating due to our failures.

Thanks for the response.

Tim

 

[John_Hiner]

Interesting, John. I admit I will need to re-read all of your post to gather it in. I do have to say that I pray that you are wrong, because to soem degree, we ALL depart from the teachings of the Church to some degree. So even if there are levels of hell, and the degree to which you knew the will of the master and did otherwise determines which level you go to, it woudl seem that we all end up somewhere on one of those levels. Sad, no?

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

Dear Tim:

Your point is well taken. However, I think your prayer would be misdirected. I think two things are material to your concern:

First, it is true that we vary from the precise will of God often, nearly constantly. As St. John teaches, “All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death." (1 Jn 5:17). It is this distinction between venial and mortal sin which is crucial. Though we all fall short when we try to obey Christ, our imperfections are not damning; we are working with Him, but falling short. This sort of iniquity is sin, and the imperfections in us that cause this sort of failure will have to be purged from us, either in this life or in Purgatory. However, trying but falling short is not mortal sin.

The servants who are beaten are not described as trying but falling short. They are described as having decided not to pursue the Master’s will. The one turns on his charges and pursues his pleasure rather than the Master’s will. The second knows the Master’s will, but does not bestir himself to pursue it. The third does not know the Master’s will and both fails to learn it, even though there are those in the house who know it, and further he pursues evil deeds which violate the Master’s will to the extent of deserving to be whipped.

These three examples each represent mortal sin, the failure to pursue the Master’s will and obey His commands, either by choosing something else, failing to take up the work, or failing to discover what the commands are. This is not an imperfect compliance with the will; it is service of a separate will, the service of a different master. Both justice and love require that this sort of decision be honored with damnation.

Second, that we are unable to completely avoid sin (except by a special grace) is the reason for the absolute necessity of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In Mass our offerings, weak and imperfect as they must be, are converted, “transubstantiated” into the offering of Christ. Our imperfect efforts to love the Father are re-made into Christ’s perfect offering of love and thanksgiving. Through this miracle, sinful and unworthy men are able to participate in the perfect love of God.

If we did not have the Sacrifice of the Mass we would be doomed by our perpetual failure to perfectly love God as is His due. In the Mass, Christ saves us from this imperfection and makes us, our efforts, prayers, lives, and faithful attempts at love, acceptable to the Father and worthy of eternal reward.

This is the answer to your “misdirected” prayer. It is not that the standard can be lowered to allow for our imperfections; that would be unjust; rather, Christ has united us to Himself and joined our efforts to His, so that the highest standards, the only standards of love worthy of the Triune God are met by the efforts of the total Christ – Jesus the Head united with His Mystical Body, the Church.

Divinum Auxilium maneat semper nobiscum.

John Hiner