READING: Luke 17 – Jesus’s Sayings, Ten Lepers, Kingdom Coming Silently, Parables & Rich Ruler

Jesus said, “Stumblings will come, but woe to anyone by whom they come.” It would be better if you had a millstone around your neck and dropped into the sea than to cause another to stumble.  

When another sins, rebuke him gently; if he repents, forgive him. If he sins seven times a day and says, “I repent,” forgive him. No wonder the disciples said, “Lord, increase our faith!” 

When a slave comes in from the field, who would say, “Come take a place at the table, and I will serve you? “No, you say, “Prepare supper for me.” When he does it, do you thank him? Probably not. In the same way, when you have done all your heavenly Father expects, say, “I have done only what I ought to have done.” 

Ten lepers met Jesus and called out, “Have mercy on us.” Jesus told them to show themselves to the priest.  One, seeing he was healed, returned and thanked Jesus, who said “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” Do we thank the Lord when He heals us in body or soul? If not, why not?  

Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming. He said, “It is not coming with things that can be seen, nor will any say, ‘Look here or there!’ In fact, the kingdom is among you.” He told His disciples when people try to tell you the kingdom is either here or there, do not go after them. The Son of Man, in His day, will be like lightning flashing across the sky! “But first He must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.” Like the days of Noah or destruction of Sodom – People’ll be going about their affairs and suddenly, a deluge of water or fiery brimstone. Remember Lot’s wife. Be prepared, but we do not know0 when this day will come. 

Jesus said, “An unjust judge whom a widow kept asking for justice finally granted it to her because he was tired of her bothering him.” Then He said God would speedily grant justice to his people who cry to Him.  

Another parable about some who trusted in themselves they were righteous: “Two men prayed in the Temple, a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee prayed, ‘God, I thank you I am not like this tax-collector.’ The tax collector beat on his breast praying, ‘Be merciful to me, a sinner!’ God justified him rather than the other.” The Pharisee had thanked God he was not saved!  

A ruler asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said, “Keep the commandments: do not commit adultery, murder, steal, or bear false witness and honor your parents.” The man said he’d done that from his youth. Jesus told him he lacked one thing. “Sell all you have, give to the poor, and come follow me.” 

He went away sad because he had great wealth. 

Would you have gone away? Would I? 

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PRAY FOR YOURSELF 

O Father in Heaven, be merciful to me, a sinner. This is, my prayer, in Jesus’s merciful name, I pray, AMEN! 

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for me) 

Holy Father, I pray for all who may read these words (and for myself) that all of us may be living in readiness for the coming of the Day of the Son of Man. This is my prayer, in Jesus’s Holy Name, AMEN!