Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 117
Lectionary: 117
The night of
the passover was known beforehand to our fathers,
that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
they might have courage.
Your people awaited the salvation of the just
and the destruction of their foes.
For when you punished our adversaries,
in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.
that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
they might have courage.
Your people awaited the salvation of the just
and the destruction of their foes.
For when you punished our adversaries,
in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
R. (12b) Blessed
the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.B
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Reading 2 Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
Brothers and
sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.”
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
Brothers and
sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
Alleluia Mt 24;42a, 44
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Stay awake and be ready!
For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake and be ready!
For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 12:32-48
Jesus said to
his disciples:
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
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, the master will put the servant
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 the servant 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.”
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
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, the master will put the servant
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 the servant 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.”
Or Lk 12:35-40
Jesus said to
his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have the servants recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Meditation:
"The Lord knocks at your door - Will you answer?"
What
is the greatest joy and treasure we could possibly possess? The Lord Jesus
promises that those who seek God and his kingdom will not be disappointed (Luke
12:32, Matthew 6:33). The Lord Jesus offers us the greatest treasure possible -
but we must first seek it and make it our true joy and possession above all
else. We naturally want to have and keep whatever we think will bring us
happiness, peace, and security. Jesus offers a priceless treasure and source of
abundant joy and security that is worth selling all else for.
The
priceless exchange and everlasting reward
Jesus tells his followers to not be fearful or anxious about their present lives and future security (Luke 12:32). He urges them to sell their possessions and to give their money to those who need it most - especially those who have nothing to provide for their present needs and welfare (Luke 12:33). This seems to go against our natural instinct to hoard and save for the future. Why would anyone want to sell their possessions and give away their money - unless they wanted to exchange these goods for something far more precious and of greater value than all the money and possessions they could ever hope to acquire in this present life.
Jesus tells his followers to not be fearful or anxious about their present lives and future security (Luke 12:32). He urges them to sell their possessions and to give their money to those who need it most - especially those who have nothing to provide for their present needs and welfare (Luke 12:33). This seems to go against our natural instinct to hoard and save for the future. Why would anyone want to sell their possessions and give away their money - unless they wanted to exchange these goods for something far more precious and of greater value than all the money and possessions they could ever hope to acquire in this present life.
Jesus
warns that money and possessions will not last and can be taken away at any
moment by a thief or by death itself. But there is one treasure which can never
be lost or destroyed because it is kept secure by God himself. What is that
treasure? It is the Lord himself and his kingdom of righteousness, peace, and
joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). This treasure is worth far more than
anything we could possibly acquire on our own. If you make the Lord your
treasure, then you will have in your possession the greatest source of joy and
lasting peace and security. The wisdom of Scripture tells us, If the
Almighty is your gold and your precious silver, then you will delight yourself
in the Almighty, and will turn your face toward God (Job 22:25-26). Do you
know the joy and happiness of making God your one and only true treasure and
security?
The
Lord knocks at our door - will we answer him?
What is the meaning of the parable of the master who returns from a wedding feast to his home in the middle of the night (Luke 12:35-40)? The door to one's house in the ancient world was usually bolted from the inside, especially at night to keep out thieves and troublemakers. It was not possible to enter from the outside without help from someone inside. Household attendants (domestic servants) who knew their master's voice were expected to be always vigilant and prepared to unbolt the door and let him in without a moment's delay. This required an attentive watchfulness and listening ear for any sign of the master's approach. No distraction, not even sleep, could be allowed to interfere with the preparation for the master's return. If the servants failed to hear the voice of their master's return, they literally shut him out since he could not unbolt the door from the outside - only they could open the door from within and allow him to enter. Their failure to welcome and serve the master on his return brought shame and dishonor.
What is the meaning of the parable of the master who returns from a wedding feast to his home in the middle of the night (Luke 12:35-40)? The door to one's house in the ancient world was usually bolted from the inside, especially at night to keep out thieves and troublemakers. It was not possible to enter from the outside without help from someone inside. Household attendants (domestic servants) who knew their master's voice were expected to be always vigilant and prepared to unbolt the door and let him in without a moment's delay. This required an attentive watchfulness and listening ear for any sign of the master's approach. No distraction, not even sleep, could be allowed to interfere with the preparation for the master's return. If the servants failed to hear the voice of their master's return, they literally shut him out since he could not unbolt the door from the outside - only they could open the door from within and allow him to enter. Their failure to welcome and serve the master on his return brought shame and dishonor.
If
the Lord Jesus knocked on your door today would you be ready and eager to
receive him? He wants us to be prepared for his coming - today, tomorrow, at
the hour of our departure from this life (our death), and when he comes again
at the end of this present world to judge all the living and the dead. The Lord
will reward those who have believed in him. The Lord Jesus knocks on the door
of our heart each and every day. Do you listen to his word and receive it with
trust and joy. The Lord calls to each one of us and he says, "Listen! I am
standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I
will come in and we will feast together" (Revelations 3:20). Do you hunger
for the Lord and for the treasure of his kingdom?
The
Lord comes to reward his faithful servants
Jesus' parable adds an unexpected reward for those who have faithfully served and watched for the master's return. When the master finally arrived home from the wedding feast at a late hour of the night, he did the unthinkable for his servants who were present to welcome and let him in. He then puts on a servant's apron and tells his servants to be seated at his own banquet table. Once they are all seated the master then personally waits on them and serves them with his own rich food and drink (Luke 12:37). Jesus' parable turns the world's way of thinking upside-down. The master rewards his faithful servants by serving them himself with the best he has to offer - a royal feast fit for a king and his loyal subjects. Are you prepared to feast with the Lord at his banquet table?
Jesus' parable adds an unexpected reward for those who have faithfully served and watched for the master's return. When the master finally arrived home from the wedding feast at a late hour of the night, he did the unthinkable for his servants who were present to welcome and let him in. He then puts on a servant's apron and tells his servants to be seated at his own banquet table. Once they are all seated the master then personally waits on them and serves them with his own rich food and drink (Luke 12:37). Jesus' parable turns the world's way of thinking upside-down. The master rewards his faithful servants by serving them himself with the best he has to offer - a royal feast fit for a king and his loyal subjects. Are you prepared to feast with the Lord at his banquet table?
Jesus'
parable has an important lesson for each one of us. Just as Jesus was faithful
and ready to obey his Father in everything - even to the point of laying down
his life on the cross for us, we too are called to be faithful and obedient to
the Lord's will for our lives. How can we grow in faithfulness and obedience to
the Lord? The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit who frees us from pride and fear,
so we can hear the Lord and embrace his way of love and faithfulness. If we fail,
the Lord will not fail us. He gives strength to the weak and to those who turn
to him with trust in his mercy and help. Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with
his Holy Spirit and with a holy desire to seek the Lord and his kingdom first
above all else.
"Lord Jesus, you alone are my treasure and the joy of my heart. May there be nothing in this world that holds me back from giving you my all - you are my all, my life and joy now and forever."
"Lord Jesus, you alone are my treasure and the joy of my heart. May there be nothing in this world that holds me back from giving you my all - you are my all, my life and joy now and forever."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The true meaning of 'loins girded and lamps
burning', by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"The
girding of our loins (Luke 12:25) signifies the readiness of the mind to work
hard in every thing praiseworthy. Those who apply themselves to bodily labors
and are engaged in strenuous toil have their loins girded. The lamp apparently
represents the wakefulness of the mind and intellectual cheerfulness. We say
that the human mind is awake when it repels any tendency to slumber off into
that carelessness that often is the means of bringing it into subjection to
every kind of wickedness. When sunk in stupor, the heavenly light within the
mind is liable to be endangered, or even already is in danger from a violent
and impetuous blast of wind. Christ commands us to be awake. To this, his
disciple also arouses us by saying, 'Be awake. Be watchful' (1 Peter 5:8).
Further on, the very wise Paul also says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the
dead: and Christ shall give you light' (Ephesians 5:14)." (excerpt from COMMENTARY
ON LUKE, HOMILY 92)
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
1st Reading - Wisdom 18:6-9
The Book of Wisdom, also known as the Wisdom of Solomon, is listed in the Muratorian Fragment [the oldest (second century) listing of writings approved as Scripture for use in the Church of Rome] as a New Testament book. The book is not in the Hebrew canon and it is certain that Greek was the original language. It was certainly written after the completion of the Septuagint (middle of the 2nd century B.C.) and earlier than the New Testament. It is thought to date from the middle of the first century B.C. which would make it the last of the Old Testament books to be written. Believed to have been composed in Alexandria, Egypt, the author certainly isn’t Solomon and his identity remains unknown. All efforts to identify the author have been futile and the most that can be said is that he was a devout, Greek speaking Jew, acquainted to some extent with Greek philosophy and culture.
The book divides into two parts: The first part (1:1 through 11:1) appears to be a public address which sings the praises of Wisdom. The second part (11:2 through the end) is a midrash (a Jewish method of searching the Scriptures with a view to discovering the deeper meaning held to underlie the most minute details contained in the sacred text) in homily form about God’s fidelity to His people in the exodus. Today’s reading concerns the tenth plague and the exodus by which God punished the Egyptians and glorified Israel.
6 That night [of the Passover] was known beforehand to our fathers, that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage.
The patriarchs [Abram (Genesis 15:13-34), Jacob (Genesis 46:3-4), etc.] to whom God swore He would deliver their descendants
7 Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes. 8 For when you punished our adversaries, in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
Chosen – from all the peoples of the earth
9 For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
The Passover
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution,
The Passover meal created a family which celebrated with a religious unity.
That your holy ones should share alike the same good things and dangers, having previously sung the praises of the fathers.
2nd Reading - Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Today we begin a study of the Book of Hebrews. The last time we studied Hebrews in any depth was the 27th through 33rd Sundays in Ordinary Time in Cycle B. Today we take up our study essentially where we left off at that time.
The epistles are arranged in the Bible first by author, and then in order of descending length. Hebrews appears after the letters of Paul and before the Epistle of James. This is because although early tradition, in the main, attributed this text to Saint Paul, the western church did not accept Pauline authorship until the 4th century. The letter’s canonicity is not in doubt; it was included in the canon by the Council of Trent (April 8, 1546) among the other writings of Saint Paul, although the council chose not to state categorically that it was written by Paul. (Note how the letter is announced for the Mass reading “A reading from the letter to the Hebrews”). At any rate, who wrote it is a secondary question which has nothing to do with matters of faith.
The letter was probably written in Italy after A.D. 63 and before A.D. 70 (somewhere around A.D. 67 would be a good guess). It was obviously written to people whom the author knew to be steeped in the Old Testament, people who in all probability were converts from Judaism, and who may previously have even been priests or Levites. After becoming Christians, because of the difficult circumstances of the time, they had to abandon Jerusalem, the holy city, to seek refuge elsewhere; possibly Caesarea or Antioch. In their exile they look back with nostalgia on the splendor of the cult they played a part in prior to their conversion. They feel deceived and are tempted to give up their new faith, in which they are not yet well grounded. In addition to this they are discontented by the persecution they suffer because of their faith. Obviously, they are in need of help and in particular of clear doctrine to bolster their faith and enable them to cope with temptation to infidelity.
As we learned last year in our study of the letter to the Hebrews, the basic teaching centers on showing the superiority of the Christian religion over Judaism. The arrangement is developed in three stages:
1) Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, the King of the universe “reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature” and is superior to the angels.
2) Christ is also superior to Moses “as the builder of a house has more honor than the house.”
3) Jesus, the Son of God, is the greatest high priest who has passed through the heavens; His priesthood is of the order of Melchizadek, superior to the priesthood of Aaron, from which the Levitical priesthood derived.
Theological faith is closely linked to hope. Today, with this lesson in mind, we hear of the faith of Abraham.
11:1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. 2 Because of it the ancients were well attested.
“‘Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested.’ Wowee! What an expression he uses! He says, ‘evidence of things not seen!’ It is usual to speak of evidence in regard to things that are very plainly seen. Faith, he says, is the full assurance that is had with things that are seen. Neither is it possible to disbelieve in things that are seen, nor again is it possible for there to be faith unless one is as fully persuaded about things invisible as he is about things most clearly seen. Since objects of hope seem to be unsubstantial, faith favors them with substance; or rather, it does not so favor them, but it is the substance. For example, the resurrection has not come, nor does it exist substantially, but hope makes it subsist in our soul. This is what he means when he says ‘the realization of what is hoped for.’” [Saint John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 403), Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 21,2(4)]
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 9 By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
Abraham’s faith is exemplified by his obedience to God’s command to migrate to Canaan (note it is not by faith alone, but by living out that faith that Abraham is declared righteous) and by his confidence that his descendants would possess the land, although he would only be a wanderer in it.
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
The faith of Isaac and Jacob is mentioned in passing.
10 for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.
Abraham’s stay in Canaan is an indication of his realization that his permanent dwelling was not to be anywhere on earth, but in the heavenly city (the heavenly Jerusalem).
11 By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile – for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. 12 So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead,
An exaggerated description of Abraham’s advanced age (100) at the time of Isaac’s birth.
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. 13 All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, 14 for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
“We all look toward the East when we pray; but few know that it is because we are looking for our own former country, Paradise, which God planted in Eden in the East (Genesis 2:8). On the first day of the week, we stand when we pray; but not all of us know why. The reason is that on the day of the resurrection, by standing at prayer, we remind ourselves of the grace we have received.” [Saint Basil the Great (A.D. 375), The Holy Spirit 27,66]
15 If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
All the patriarchs acknowledged that their homeland was in heaven.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises
Abraham’s faith is a classic case. His hopes for the fulfillment of God’s promise were bound up with the boy but Abraham, through faith, knew that God was instructing him to live out the divine plan.
was ready to offer his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” 19 He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
The author sees Isaac’s deliverance from death as a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
1st Reading - Wisdom 18:6-9
The Book of Wisdom, also known as the Wisdom of Solomon, is listed in the Muratorian Fragment [the oldest (second century) listing of writings approved as Scripture for use in the Church of Rome] as a New Testament book. The book is not in the Hebrew canon and it is certain that Greek was the original language. It was certainly written after the completion of the Septuagint (middle of the 2nd century B.C.) and earlier than the New Testament. It is thought to date from the middle of the first century B.C. which would make it the last of the Old Testament books to be written. Believed to have been composed in Alexandria, Egypt, the author certainly isn’t Solomon and his identity remains unknown. All efforts to identify the author have been futile and the most that can be said is that he was a devout, Greek speaking Jew, acquainted to some extent with Greek philosophy and culture.
The book divides into two parts: The first part (1:1 through 11:1) appears to be a public address which sings the praises of Wisdom. The second part (11:2 through the end) is a midrash (a Jewish method of searching the Scriptures with a view to discovering the deeper meaning held to underlie the most minute details contained in the sacred text) in homily form about God’s fidelity to His people in the exodus. Today’s reading concerns the tenth plague and the exodus by which God punished the Egyptians and glorified Israel.
6 That night [of the Passover] was known beforehand to our fathers, that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage.
The patriarchs [Abram (Genesis 15:13-34), Jacob (Genesis 46:3-4), etc.] to whom God swore He would deliver their descendants
7 Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes. 8 For when you punished our adversaries, in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.
Chosen – from all the peoples of the earth
9 For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
The Passover
and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution,
The Passover meal created a family which celebrated with a religious unity.
That your holy ones should share alike the same good things and dangers, having previously sung the praises of the fathers.
2nd Reading - Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Today we begin a study of the Book of Hebrews. The last time we studied Hebrews in any depth was the 27th through 33rd Sundays in Ordinary Time in Cycle B. Today we take up our study essentially where we left off at that time.
The epistles are arranged in the Bible first by author, and then in order of descending length. Hebrews appears after the letters of Paul and before the Epistle of James. This is because although early tradition, in the main, attributed this text to Saint Paul, the western church did not accept Pauline authorship until the 4th century. The letter’s canonicity is not in doubt; it was included in the canon by the Council of Trent (April 8, 1546) among the other writings of Saint Paul, although the council chose not to state categorically that it was written by Paul. (Note how the letter is announced for the Mass reading “A reading from the letter to the Hebrews”). At any rate, who wrote it is a secondary question which has nothing to do with matters of faith.
The letter was probably written in Italy after A.D. 63 and before A.D. 70 (somewhere around A.D. 67 would be a good guess). It was obviously written to people whom the author knew to be steeped in the Old Testament, people who in all probability were converts from Judaism, and who may previously have even been priests or Levites. After becoming Christians, because of the difficult circumstances of the time, they had to abandon Jerusalem, the holy city, to seek refuge elsewhere; possibly Caesarea or Antioch. In their exile they look back with nostalgia on the splendor of the cult they played a part in prior to their conversion. They feel deceived and are tempted to give up their new faith, in which they are not yet well grounded. In addition to this they are discontented by the persecution they suffer because of their faith. Obviously, they are in need of help and in particular of clear doctrine to bolster their faith and enable them to cope with temptation to infidelity.
As we learned last year in our study of the letter to the Hebrews, the basic teaching centers on showing the superiority of the Christian religion over Judaism. The arrangement is developed in three stages:
1) Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, the King of the universe “reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature” and is superior to the angels.
2) Christ is also superior to Moses “as the builder of a house has more honor than the house.”
3) Jesus, the Son of God, is the greatest high priest who has passed through the heavens; His priesthood is of the order of Melchizadek, superior to the priesthood of Aaron, from which the Levitical priesthood derived.
Theological faith is closely linked to hope. Today, with this lesson in mind, we hear of the faith of Abraham.
11:1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. 2 Because of it the ancients were well attested.
“‘Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested.’ Wowee! What an expression he uses! He says, ‘evidence of things not seen!’ It is usual to speak of evidence in regard to things that are very plainly seen. Faith, he says, is the full assurance that is had with things that are seen. Neither is it possible to disbelieve in things that are seen, nor again is it possible for there to be faith unless one is as fully persuaded about things invisible as he is about things most clearly seen. Since objects of hope seem to be unsubstantial, faith favors them with substance; or rather, it does not so favor them, but it is the substance. For example, the resurrection has not come, nor does it exist substantially, but hope makes it subsist in our soul. This is what he means when he says ‘the realization of what is hoped for.’” [Saint John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 403), Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 21,2(4)]
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 9 By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
Abraham’s faith is exemplified by his obedience to God’s command to migrate to Canaan (note it is not by faith alone, but by living out that faith that Abraham is declared righteous) and by his confidence that his descendants would possess the land, although he would only be a wanderer in it.
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
The faith of Isaac and Jacob is mentioned in passing.
10 for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.
Abraham’s stay in Canaan is an indication of his realization that his permanent dwelling was not to be anywhere on earth, but in the heavenly city (the heavenly Jerusalem).
11 By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile – for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. 12 So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead,
An exaggerated description of Abraham’s advanced age (100) at the time of Isaac’s birth.
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. 13 All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, 14 for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
“We all look toward the East when we pray; but few know that it is because we are looking for our own former country, Paradise, which God planted in Eden in the East (Genesis 2:8). On the first day of the week, we stand when we pray; but not all of us know why. The reason is that on the day of the resurrection, by standing at prayer, we remind ourselves of the grace we have received.” [Saint Basil the Great (A.D. 375), The Holy Spirit 27,66]
15 If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
All the patriarchs acknowledged that their homeland was in heaven.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises
Abraham’s faith is a classic case. His hopes for the fulfillment of God’s promise were bound up with the boy but Abraham, through faith, knew that God was instructing him to live out the divine plan.
was ready to offer his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” 19 He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
The author sees Isaac’s deliverance from death as a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.
Gospel - Luke 12:32-48
Jesus, having told the disciples of the external problems they will encounter such as that of the Pharisees, whose leven is hypocrisy, now tells them of internal problems caused by selfish Church officials.
[Jesus said to His disciples:] 32 “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
To His struggling, opposed, and small group of disciples Jesus promises what is all-important: the kingdom; the powers of which are operative in their group.
33 Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Don’t worry about material goods, share. Matthew 6:21 gives this in a negative form: “do not lay up treasures on earth.” Saint Luke’s account is more positive and demanding.
35 “Gird your loins and light your lamps 36 and be like servants
One who gives service to the Christian community
who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
This role reversal is significant and underscores God’s absolute gratuity. The servant who is faithful during the time of fulfillment before the parousia will share in the banquet in the end times.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 38 And should he come in the second or third watch
The times for the changing of the watch were midnight and sunrise.
and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. 39 Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 41 Then Peter said,
Peter is the spokesman for the group. Notice that Jesus ignores the question, implying that it was out of place.
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” 42 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?
More seems to be involved than mere foodstuffs. Could this be a reference to communal meals such as the Eucharist?
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. 45 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,
Echoes of verse 19 sound: The Church official has taken on some of the characteristics of the fool.
46 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. 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; 48 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.
The punishments for unfaithful and negligent Church officials are stark. Community officials must be faithful and not create internal problems for the Church.
“Indeed, the more superior is a rational nature, so much the worse is its ruin; and the more unbelievable is its sin, so much more the damnable it is. The angel, therefore, fell irreparably, because more is demanded of him to whom more is given... Adam, the first man, was of such an excellent nature, because that nature was not yet weakened, that his sin was much greater by far than are the sins of other men. Therefore his punishment too, which was the immediate consequence of his sin, seemed much more severe. It had been in Adam’s power not to die; but now he was immediately bound by the necessity of dying, and he was immediately sent away from the place of such great happiness; and he was immediately barred from access to the tree of life. But when this was done, the human race was still in his loins. ... Thus all the sons of Adam were infected through him with the contagion of sin and were subjected to the state of death.” [Saint Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 428-430), The Unfinished Work Against Julian’s Second Reply, 6,22]
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, LUKE 12:32-48 or LUKE 12:35-40
(Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 or 11:1-2, 8-12)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, LUKE 12:32-48 or LUKE 12:35-40
(Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 or 11:1-2, 8-12)
KEY VERSE: "You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come” (v. 40).
TO KNOW: The early Church expected the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In speaking of his second coming (parousia), Jesus described himself as a master returning from a wedding and expecting to find his servants vigilant upon his arrival. Jesus made the unlikely comparison of himself to a thief in the night (1Thes 5:2). He pointed to the uncertain hour of his return by telling his disciples to be prepared whenever he might come. The faithful servant who watched over the household (the Church) would be rewarded for their fidelity when the master returned. Unfaithful servants would be punished for their shameful behavior. Jesus warned these future leaders of the Church that they would be held more accountable than those who acted out of ignorance. Christian leaders today must continue to exercise care for the Church, which has been entrusted to them. They should never leave a task undone that ought to be finished before Christ's return.
TO LOVE: Am I a good steward of the time, treasure and talents the Lord has given me?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be your faithful and trustworthy servant.
Sunday 11 August 2019
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 18:6-9. Psalm 32(33):1, 12, 18-20, 22. Hebrews 11:1-2,
8-19. Luke 12:32-48.
Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own – Psalm
32(33):1, 12, 18-20, 22.
‘Give yourself treasure that will not fail you.’
Lord Jesus, we desire security. We try to find ways of making
ourselves impregnable so that we won’t be devastated when the worst happens.
But our Father is inviting us to make ourselves vulnerable by ‘selling all our
possessions’ – by letting go the security we cling to, whatever it is. This is
the way of faith.
Jesus, it is hard to take this sort of risk. It is hard to be
completely dependent on you. It is especially hard when your kingdom and its
realisation seem so far away. ‘Jesus, where are you?’ ‘Look in your heart’, I
hear you reply. ‘If you continue to take the steps in faith I have been asking
of you, you will see that you are not alone. You are companioned by the Holy
Spirit who draws you into God and his kingdom now.’ May this realisation offer
me consolation and peace each day.
Saint Clare of
Assisi
Saint of the Day for August 11
(July 16, 1194 – August 11, 1253)
 |
| Saint Clare | original painting for the Poor Clares in Cincinnati, OH |
Saint Clare of Assisi’s Story
One of the more sugary movies made about Francis of Assisi
pictures Clare as a golden-haired beauty floating through sun-drenched fields,
a sort of one-woman counterpart to the new Franciscan Order.
The beginning of her religious life was indeed movie material.
Having refused to marry at 15, Clare was moved by the dynamic preaching of
Francis. He became her lifelong friend and spiritual guide.
At 18, Clare escaped from her father’s home one night, was met
on the road by friars carrying torches, and in the poor little chapel called
the Portiuncula received a rough woolen habit, exchanged her jeweled belt for a
common rope with knots in it, and sacrificed her long tresses to Francis’
scissors. He placed her in a Benedictine convent, which her father and uncles immediately
stormed in rage. Clare clung to the altar of the church, threw aside her veil
to show her cropped hair, and remained adamant.
Sixteen days later her sister Agnes joined her. Others came.
They lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity, and complete seclusion
from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order.
At age 21, Francis obliged Clare under obedience to accept the office of
abbess, one she exercised until her death.
The Poor Ladies went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat,
and observed almost complete silence. Later Clare, like Francis, persuaded her
sisters to moderate this rigor: “Our bodies are not made of brass.” The
greatest emphasis, of course, was on gospel poverty. They possessed no
property, even in common, subsisting on daily contributions. When even the pope
tried to persuade Clare to mitigate this practice, she showed her
characteristic firmness: “I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish
to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ.”
Contemporary accounts glow with admiration of Clare’s life in
the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. She served the sick and washed the feet
of the begging nuns. She came from prayer, it was said, with her face so
shining it dazzled those about her. She suffered serious illness for the last
27 years of her life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals, and bishops
often came to consult her—Clare herself never left the walls of San Damiano.
Francis always remained her great friend and inspiration. Clare
was always obedient to his will and to the great ideal of gospel life which he
was making real.
A well-known story concerns her prayer and trust. Clare had the
Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it faced attack by
invading Saracens. “Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of
these beasts the defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I
beseech you, dear Lord, protect these whom I am now unable to protect.” To her
sisters she said, “Don’t be afraid. Trust in Jesus.” The Saracens fled.
Reflection
The 41 years of Clare’s religious life are scenarios of
sanctity: an indomitable resolve to lead the simple, literal gospel life as
Francis taught her; courageous resistance to the ever-present pressure to
dilute the ideal; a passion for poverty and humility; an ardent life of prayer;
and a generous concern for her sisters.
Saint Clare is the Patron Saint of:
Eye disorders
Television
Television
Lectio
Divina: 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (C)
Lectio Divina
Sunday, August 11, 2019
The teaching of Jesus concerning vigilance
Luke 12:32-48
Luke 12:32-48
1. Opening prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful.
You who have already come to make us faithful,
come now to make us blessed.
You who have come so that, with Your help,
we may glory in the hope of sharing
in the glory of the children of God,
come again that we may also glory in its possession.
It is You who confirm, consolidate,
perfect and bring to fulfillment.
The Father created us, the Son redeemed us:
fulfill then that which is Yours.
Introduce us to the whole truth,
to the enjoyment of the highest Good,
to the vision of the Father, the abundance of all delights,
the joy of joys. Amen
(Gualtiero di S. Vittore)
You who have already come to make us faithful,
come now to make us blessed.
You who have come so that, with Your help,
we may glory in the hope of sharing
in the glory of the children of God,
come again that we may also glory in its possession.
It is You who confirm, consolidate,
perfect and bring to fulfillment.
The Father created us, the Son redeemed us:
fulfill then that which is Yours.
Introduce us to the whole truth,
to the enjoyment of the highest Good,
to the vision of the Father, the abundance of all delights,
the joy of joys. Amen
(Gualtiero di S. Vittore)
2. Lectio
a) A key to the reading:
We have here a double context: the formation of the disciples
during Jesus’ journey towards Jerusalem (9:51-19:28) and the reaction of the
converted pagans in the communities of Luke after their initial enthusiasm and
the prolonged coming of the Lord. The disciples are scared (9:45) at the new
idea of the mission of Jesus who has to suffer (9:22,43-44), and in them the
more comforting idea of a glorious Messiah continues to dominate. Similarly, in
the new Christian communities (in the 80’s), a revival of the pagan spirit
begins to grow. Perhaps, before converting definitely and deeply, put off this
change of life and way of thinking? Jesus assures His disciples with three
parables and makes them reflect on the meaning of meeting with God, on the
meaning of vigilance and of the responsibility of each one in the present
situation.
b) A suggested division of the text:
12:32-35 introduction.
12:36-38 the parable of the master who returns from his wedding.
12:39 the parable of the thief who forces his way.
12:40-41 the disciples implicated.
12:42-46 the parable of the steward.
12:47-48 conclusion.
12:36-38 the parable of the master who returns from his wedding.
12:39 the parable of the thief who forces his way.
12:40-41 the disciples implicated.
12:42-46 the parable of the steward.
12:47-48 conclusion.
c) The text:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer,
little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your
belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear
out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth
destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “Gird your
loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return
from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are
those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to
you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on
them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in
this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the
house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his
house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not
expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable
meant for us or for everyone?” 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, the master will
put the servant 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
the servant 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.”
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
a) A few questions:
- What did I feel when I read the text: fear, trust, surprise, joy,
hope, confusion. . .?
- How far does Christian life mean joy to me and how far is it a burden? How far is it a matter of duty and how far of love?
- What do I feel when I think of a sudden death for me?
- How far is communion with God still an expectation for me and how far something that I already possess?
- How does the pagan thinking of “carpe diem”, contrary to Gospel values, manifest itself today?
- In my life, what does it mean to be vigilant, faithful, working for the Kingdom and prepared?
- How far does Christian life mean joy to me and how far is it a burden? How far is it a matter of duty and how far of love?
- What do I feel when I think of a sudden death for me?
- How far is communion with God still an expectation for me and how far something that I already possess?
- How does the pagan thinking of “carpe diem”, contrary to Gospel values, manifest itself today?
- In my life, what does it mean to be vigilant, faithful, working for the Kingdom and prepared?
b) A commentary:
This is a catechesis on the return of the Lord.
12:32 There is no reason for fear.
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you His kingdom. When the disciples are facing fear, Jesus consoles them with the metaphor of the flock (Jn 10; 21:15-17) and the good shepherd. One must fear false prophets (Mt 7:15). The Father’s will is that not one be lost (Mt 18:12-16), He will give us everything (Rom 8:28-32). A place has been prepared for us from the beginning of time (Mt 25:34). We are heirs with the Son (1Pet 1:3-5).
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you His kingdom. When the disciples are facing fear, Jesus consoles them with the metaphor of the flock (Jn 10; 21:15-17) and the good shepherd. One must fear false prophets (Mt 7:15). The Father’s will is that not one be lost (Mt 18:12-16), He will give us everything (Rom 8:28-32). A place has been prepared for us from the beginning of time (Mt 25:34). We are heirs with the Son (1Pet 1:3-5).
12:33-34 Today we welcome the richness of possessing God, the
only good. God alone suffices!
Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus had said that we must not store up physical treasures (Mt 6:20-21). The Christian community had understood the meaning of freedom from attachment to goods and the sharing of them (Acts 4:34) because time was short (1Cor 7:29-31). The new life in Christ becomes the criterion for ownership of any possession.
Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus had said that we must not store up physical treasures (Mt 6:20-21). The Christian community had understood the meaning of freedom from attachment to goods and the sharing of them (Acts 4:34) because time was short (1Cor 7:29-31). The new life in Christ becomes the criterion for ownership of any possession.
12:35 A daily commitment.
Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning;
Because it has pleased the Father to give us the kingdom, we must be ready to take possession of it, after we have left behind every hindrance. The Jews girded their long robes at the waist so as to be able to work better. Elijah girds himself in order to run (1Kings 18:46). The attitude that Jesus recommends to those who are expecting His coming is that of getting down to work and not to give in to mediocrity (1Thess 5:6-8; 1Pet 5:8; 1:13). Vigilance is fundamental for the Christian. The Christian’s way of life is more than just an attitude for he/she has now put on Christ and is dedicated to His Kingdom.
Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning;
Because it has pleased the Father to give us the kingdom, we must be ready to take possession of it, after we have left behind every hindrance. The Jews girded their long robes at the waist so as to be able to work better. Elijah girds himself in order to run (1Kings 18:46). The attitude that Jesus recommends to those who are expecting His coming is that of getting down to work and not to give in to mediocrity (1Thess 5:6-8; 1Pet 5:8; 1:13). Vigilance is fundamental for the Christian. The Christian’s way of life is more than just an attitude for he/she has now put on Christ and is dedicated to His Kingdom.
12:37-38 Meeting God will be wonderful.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!
The action of the master who serves his servants is quite surprising! This was what Jesus did when He washed the feet of His disciples (Jn 13:4-5). The division of the night into parts (Mk 13:35) according to Roman custom, makes it more difficult for those watching. For those who are creatively faithful to the Lord, the future is guaranteed.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!
The action of the master who serves his servants is quite surprising! This was what Jesus did when He washed the feet of His disciples (Jn 13:4-5). The division of the night into parts (Mk 13:35) according to Roman custom, makes it more difficult for those watching. For those who are creatively faithful to the Lord, the future is guaranteed.
12:39 Let us not waste time (and money!) in trying to look into
the future.
But know this: that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have been awake and would not have left his house to be broken into.
One argument in favor of vigilance is that we do not know when the Lord will come (Mt 24:42-51). Both the day of the final judgment and of our individual death are unknown. His coming cannot be foreseen (Rev 3:3). This made a great impression on the disciples (1Thess 2:1-2; 2Pet 3:10).
But know this: that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have been awake and would not have left his house to be broken into.
One argument in favor of vigilance is that we do not know when the Lord will come (Mt 24:42-51). Both the day of the final judgment and of our individual death are unknown. His coming cannot be foreseen (Rev 3:3). This made a great impression on the disciples (1Thess 2:1-2; 2Pet 3:10).
12:40-41 Love not formal membership must be our strength.
You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour. Peter said, “Lord, are You telling this parable for us or for all?”
Peter, his old self, still thinks of getting some privileges because he had left everything behind to follow Jesus (Mt 19:27). Jesus helps Peter grow in conscience by answering indirectly through the parable of the good steward.
Conversion is a life-long process, also for those who feel close to the Lord.
You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour. Peter said, “Lord, are You telling this parable for us or for all?”
Peter, his old self, still thinks of getting some privileges because he had left everything behind to follow Jesus (Mt 19:27). Jesus helps Peter grow in conscience by answering indirectly through the parable of the good steward.
Conversion is a life-long process, also for those who feel close to the Lord.
12:42-44 Combining vigilance and faithful service to the task
entrusted to us.
And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
Luke uses “steward” rather than “servant” (Mt 24:45) almost suggesting the question made by Peter. Those responsible, particularly, have to be faithful in their service.
And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
Luke uses “steward” rather than “servant” (Mt 24:45) almost suggesting the question made by Peter. Those responsible, particularly, have to be faithful in their service.
12:45-46 Not putting off our conversion to an indefinite
tomorrow.
But if that servant says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming,” and begins to beat the manservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him with the unfaithful.
There are those who welcomed enthusiastically the Gospel message, but now, faced with present difficulties and consequent commitments, begin to take up once more their old habits: violence, intemperance, not following instincts, all values that are contrary to the Gospel.
But if that servant says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming,” and begins to beat the manservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him with the unfaithful.
There are those who welcomed enthusiastically the Gospel message, but now, faced with present difficulties and consequent commitments, begin to take up once more their old habits: violence, intemperance, not following instincts, all values that are contrary to the Gospel.
12:47 Giving according to the measure that we have
received.
That servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating.
The Lord will reward each one according to his/her deeds (Mt 16:27) and according to the grace received (Rom 11:11-24). Jews, pagans, converted persons or those faithful to their religion will be judged according to their right conscience.
That servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating.
The Lord will reward each one according to his/her deeds (Mt 16:27) and according to the grace received (Rom 11:11-24). Jews, pagans, converted persons or those faithful to their religion will be judged according to their right conscience.
12:48 For great will be the eternal communion with God.
Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.
St. John of the Cross says that at the end of life we will be judged on love. See also Mt 25:15-16.
Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.
St. John of the Cross says that at the end of life we will be judged on love. See also Mt 25:15-16.
4. Psalm 33:1-5; 13-15; 18-22
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Praise the Lord with the lyre,
make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to Him a new song,
play skillfully on the strings,
with loud shouts.
For the word of the Lord is upright;
and all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Praise befits the upright.
Praise the Lord with the lyre,
make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to Him a new song,
play skillfully on the strings,
with loud shouts.
For the word of the Lord is upright;
and all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
The Lord looks down from heaven,
He sees all the sons of men;
from where He sits enthroned
He looks forth on all the inhabitants of the earth,
He who fashions the hearts of them all,
and observes all their deeds.
He sees all the sons of men;
from where He sits enthroned
He looks forth on all the inhabitants of the earth,
He who fashions the hearts of them all,
and observes all their deeds.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
on those who hope in His steadfast love,
that He may deliver their soul from death,
and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and shield.
Yea, our heart is glad in Him,
because we trust in His holy Name.
Let Thy steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in Thee.
on those who hope in His steadfast love,
that He may deliver their soul from death,
and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and shield.
Yea, our heart is glad in Him,
because we trust in His holy Name.
Let Thy steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in Thee.
5. Closing prayer
Father, may the same faith burn in our hearts as that flame that
urged Abraham to live on earth as a pilgrim. May our light never dim, so that,
vigilant in expectation of Your hour, we may be ushered by You into our eternal
homeland (Collect 19th Sunday C). Amen.
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