11th Week of Pentecost

Acts 25:13b-14a,22-27
King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul’s case to the king. Agrippa said to Festus, “I too should like to hear this man.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.” The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great ceremony and entered the audience hall in the company of cohort commanders and the prominent men of the city and, by command of Festus, Paul was brought in. And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all you here present with us, look at this man about whom the whole Jewish populace petitioned me here and in Jerusalem, clamoring that he should live no longer. I found, however, that he had done nothing deserving death, and so when he appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. But I have nothing definite to write about him to our sovereign; therefore I have brought him before all of you, and particularly before you, King Agrippa, so that I may have something to write as a result of this investigation. For it seems senseless to me to send up a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”

Luke 12:42-48
And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time? 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, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 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.

Knowledge about God is not enough. What is necessary is love of God. If we know about God, but do not love Him we will be judged more harshly because we missed our chance and rejected God’s love. To know God is to know God as lover and this knowledge impells return of live. The one who does not know God as love, does not know God, and will be judged less harshly, but will be missing outvon recieving love and returning love. It is worth the risk to know and love God, because in love one finds that much is never enough, as love responds to love.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Good Master and Ruler of all,
your kindness is felt even by evil doers.
Grant that we may always respond to your goodness and
accomplish deeds of justice.
On the Day of the great manifestation of your justice
may we not be cursed,
rather, let your grace surround and protect us.
Glory be to you forever.
Amen.