From: Luke 12:1-7
Various Teachings of Jesus
[1] In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered to-
gether that they trod upon one another, He (Jesus) began to say to His disciples
first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] Nothing is
covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. [3] What-
ever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whis-
pered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”
[4] “I tell you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that, have
no more that they can do. [5] But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, af-
ter He has killed, has power to cast into Hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! [6] Are not
five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
[7] Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more
value than many sparrows.”
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Commentary:
3. Most Palestinian houses had a roof in the form of a terrace. There people
would meet to chat and while away the time in the hottest part of the day. Jesus
points out to His disciples that just as in these get-togethers things said in private
became matters of discussion, so too, despite the Pharisees’ and scribes’ efforts
to hide their vices and defects under the veil of hypocrisy, they would become a
matter of common knowledge.
6-7. Nothing — not even the most insignificant thing — escapes God, His Provi-
dence and the judgment He will mete out. For this same reason no one should
fear that any suffering or persecution he experiences in following Christ will re-
main unrewarded in eternity.
The teaching about fear, contained in verse 5, is filled out in verses 6 and 7,
where Jesus tells us that God is a good Father who watches over every one of
us — much more than He does over these little ones (whom He also remembers).
Therefore, our fear of God should not be servile (based on fear of punishment); it
should be a filial fear (the fear of someone who does not want to displease his
father), a fear nourished by trust in Divine Providence.
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Green.
| First reading |
| Ephesians 1:11-14 © |
| You have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit |
It is in Christ that we were claimed as God’s own,
chosen from the beginning,
under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things
as he decides by his own will;
chosen to be,
for his greater glory,
the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.
Now you too, in him,
have heard the message of the truth and the good news of your salvation,
and have believed it;
and you too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise,
the pledge of our inheritance
which brings freedom for those whom God has taken for his own, to make his glory praised.
| Responsorial Psalm |
| Psalm 32(33):1-2,4-5,12-13 © |
Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.
Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.
For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.
They are happy, whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen as his own.
From the heavens the Lord looks forth,
he sees all the children of men.
Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.
| Gospel Acclamation |
cf.Ps18:9 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your words gladden the heart, O Lord,
they give light to the eyes.
Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia!
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you.
Alleluia!
| Not one sparrow is forgotten in God's sight |
The people had gathered in their thousands so that they were treading on one another. And Jesus began to speak, first of all to his disciples. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. For this reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places will be proclaimed on the housetops.
‘To you my friends I say: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. There is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’