BE PREPARED
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C (07/08/2022)
Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22; Heb 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12;32-32-48
By Fr. Samuel Odeh
In our first reading today from The Book of Wisdom, the people of Israel recall from their history that God had always been there for them. The night of the Passover, when the angel of the Lord delivered them from slavery in Egypt, was made known to them beforehand because God had a special place for them in his heart. "The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies were expected by your people." They remembered that God had always been faithful and this gave them hope and courage for the future. "For by the same means by which you punished our enemies you called us to yourself and glorified us." There is a lesson for us here: if God was faithful to us yesterday and is present to us today, will he not also be faithful to us tomorrow? Why do we fear the the future? Why do we fear tomorrow?
The second reading from The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of Abraham and Sarah as examples of faith. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out not knowing where he was to go." "By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised." "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only-begotten son..." We as believers must be ready to imitate the example and faith of Abraham and Sarah. They believed the promises the Lord had made to them; they heard the voice of God in the promises that he made to them about the future and were not afraid. They were vigilant. We also should be vigilant in like manner.
The Gospel reading today also tells us not to fear the future: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." To prepare for the coming judgment at the end of time or at the end of our lives Jesus tells us to sell our possessions and give alms to the poor. Our purses and wallets should be the type that do not grow old. We are to store up treasure in heaven because it is an investment that does not fail and is secure from thieves and does not decay. Jesus tells us to tie our belts always and to keep our lamps burning always. We are to be prepared like "men waiting for their master to return from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks." At the time of Jesus and even now in that land, marriage feasts could last for days and so it was difficult to say exactly when the guests would return to their homes. "You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Peter asks if this lesson is meant for the disciples or for the large crowd that has gathered to listen to Jesus. Without answering Peter's question, Jesus responds with yet another lesson about servants awaiting the return of their master. It begins with a question: “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?” This lesson is also about watchfulness; it explains how to wait and reminds us of the reward for the faithful follower at the heavenly banquet after the judgment. If it is addressed to the disciples, then it could also be addressed to leadership in the Church. Either way, we are reminded that all of us, whether leaders or followers, should be found doing our work when the master arrives. If we are found doing our work, our reward will be great. But if we relax, neglect our duties, and begin "to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk," our master will come on a day we do not expect and at an hour we do not know, and will punish us, and put is with the unfaithful; we will not have a place in the kingdom of heaven. Lord Jesus, teach us to be watchful and dutiful. Lord Jesus may we obey you in all your commands, and may we always be ready to give an account to God of how we have lived our lives. Amen.
