Fr. Eugene Lobo S.J. –
Nineteenth Sunday of the Year August 07 2022
Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48
Our Christian faith is based on the personal love of God towards each one of us. Through faith, wonders have been carried out throughout the ages. Thanks to faith we ourselves believe in the divine presence and in his providential care. But true faith is nothing without love. It is love that is the driving force of faith; it is love that pushes the men and women living on this earth to believe, with all their heart, in God the Father who is caring for us. Faith and love do good work: together they lead man towards God, towards that food which is the Word of God. Today’s readings call us to faith, hope, and trust in God. In the Gospel of today, Jesus invites us as he tells his disciples not to be afraid because it is the Father’s desire to give us the kingdom. Further, Jesus says where your treasure is, there will your heart be also and calls us to build that treasure which cannot be robbed by any thief or destroyed by any moth.
In today’s First Reading, from the Book of wisdom, the author reminds us that people who gain wisdom through their relationship with God enjoy advantages in life not available to those who choose to ignore the things of heaven. Here the author encourages the readers to persevere in their life of faith in spite of the opposition and difficulties. We have the illustration of the Exodus events, the account of the tenth plague, in which God showed his mighty power to save his chosen ones from their enemies.
The Second Reading of today tells us of the faith and patience of Abraham, his wife Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. Faith in the letter to the Hebrews involves trust and hope in God. What God has promised is not only future glory but also obtaining things unseen. Reviewing the faith of Abraham, we admire the Patriarch as he obeyed God and left his homeland for the Land promised by God. In his heart, he desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one, the inheritance of the promises of God. Abraham did shine in his faith and obedience.
The Gospel reading of today begins with an antidote of anxiety, to put aside all fear, to trust in God, and to spend all energy in serving others. Jesus is encouraging his followers that they have no need to be filled with worry or anxiety about how they will be provided for. The way we handle material goods determines whether we have earthly treasures or treasures in heaven. The Gospel is consistent in teaching us that true security is to be found not in wealth or possessions but in the providence of God. The emphasis of the passage moves quickly from anxiety to watchfulness. Luke was convinced that the end time and the second coming of Jesus could not be predicted. Still, the disciple could not live a life as if all this did not exist. Its two stories tell us to be ready for the Lord’s coming into our lives.
Then is the story of the steward. A steward is one who took care of the house and the servants in the absence of the master. This man’s mistake was that he did what he liked when the master was away. He did not act in a responsible way. He deceived himself saying that his master is delayed. The steward’s second mistake was that he thought he had plenty of time to put things right before the master returned. The master expected the servants to be ready always. The disciples of Jesus must always be ready to receive him when he calls.
The Gospel begins with the tender words that Jesus speaks to his Apostles and to all people in general: Do not be afraid any longer, little flock. Fear is the feeling of anxiety caused by the presence of pending presence of danger which can be physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, or moral. We fear all kinds of things: we fear losing our health, losing our jobs, losing a family member or good friend. We fear living alone, fear dying alone, fear rejection, failure, losing money. We may fear intimacy or be abandoned. Fear hinders our spiritual and psychological growth. Our fears hold us in bondage and prevent us from experiencing the freedom of the children of God. Dealing with our fears daily offers us the opportunities to grow spiritually and psychologically. We can allow our fears to paralyze us or we can confront them.
This Gospel asks us to be truly ready to face the ultimate, implying that that man, in spite of all his efforts to build up his human and material security. He had pictured a long and bright future before him with material wealth. But he was not prepared to receive God. Jesus tells us today to be ready and to be prepared when the Master comes. For all our care and precautions, there is absolutely no way we can know when or how the Master will come to call us to himself. Jesus is warning us today about something much more important than the property we own, namely, the quality of our lives. We have to have our lamps lit and keep them burning so that it shows light to all.
There is another perspective to the theme of watchfulness. This is evident in the question of Peter who asks Jesus whether the parable is meant for the disciples or for everyone. Each person is accountable for his own deeds and has to give account to the Lord. He tells us that those who persevere in their living faith, are blessed. Secondly, faith and patience are regarded as spiritual virtues that are so great in the eyes of God that as a reward to those who possess these qualities, Jesus will sit down with them, serve them and eat with them. This will take place in the Kingdom of God. He has given the disciples greater gifts and therefore he demands greater responsibility.
Jesus concludes His teaching by saying, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more, will be demanded.” In other words, we have to be accountable for our deeds. For those who are entrusted with the care of souls, more will be demanded of them. This includes each one of us, clergy, religious, teachers, parents, and all Christians who have the task of proclaiming the kingdom of God. To retain a vibrant faith Jesus makes three demands of his followers. First, we are to share with the needy. Secondly, we have to be vigilant and prepared and live that life integrated by faith. Thirdly, whatever be our task in life, we must carry it out faithfully and responsibly in a spirit of service.
Placing all the three readings together the message that is given to us is to have deep faith in God and leave behind all things that can draw us away from him. The Book of Wisdom reminds the Jews of a sign of faith and hope for all times. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds of those who experienced faith in their lives and put it into practice. To retain a vibrant faith, the Lord makes three demands of his followers. First, we are to share with the needy. That is the only worthwhile treasure that awaits us in heaven. Secondly, we have to be vigilant and prepared and live lives integrated into faith. Finally, whatever be the task in life we must be ready to carry it out faithfully and responsibly in a spirit of service.
A boy and a girl were playing together. The boy had a collection of marbles. The girl had some sweets with her. The boy told the girl that he will give her all his marbles in exchange for her sweets. The girl agreed. The boy kept the biggest and the most beautiful marble aside and gave the rest to the girl. The girl gave him all her sweets as she had promised. That night, the girl slept peacefully. But the boy couldn’t sleep as he kept wondering if the girl had hidden some sweets from him the way he had hidden his best marble. Moral of the story: If you don’t give your hundred per cent in a relationship, you’ll always keep doubting if the other person has given his/her hundred per cent.
A man was selling balloons at a fair in the tribal village. He had balloons of different colours, including red, yellow, blue, black, and green. To attract the attention of children he would release the gas-filled balloons into the air. When children saw the balloon go up, they would jump with joy and rush to buy one or more. The balloon man was busy, he realized someone tugging his shirt sleeves. He looked down and saw a little boy dark in complexion pointing to a black balloon and asking him whether that will go up high. For a moment the person was taken aback asking himself why the boy asked this question. Then seeing his dark complexion he realized the reason for it. He then caressed the boy and said, “Son it is not the colour of the balloon that makes it go up the sky but it is the air that I fill in it go up right into the sky.”