19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word
True followers of Christ remain faithful, vigilant, persevering and humble servants in building God’s Kingdom.
Theme
We build God’s Kingdom when we persevere as faithful and prudent servants.
Promise
“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant….” (Lk 12:37a)
Reflection:
Pope Francis writes:“Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instils in us the courage to look to the future with hope.”
To face the future with confidence, knowing that God is always on our side, is one of the fruit of our renewed appreciation of the greatness of God’s mercy. Hope is a gift that assures us that life here on earth has meaning; it has a future and the ultimate goal is God.
The first reading, taken from the Book of Wisdom (18:6-9) narrates how the Israelites, enslaved in Egypt, waited for their time of liberation. Their ancestors knew it would come, but they didn’t know when. By faith, they had“sure knowledge”of God’s faithfulness, and so “awaited the salvation of the just, and the destruction of their foes.”They did not wait with passive resignation, but prepared for their liberation by following God’s law and offering sacrifices. This is also a description of the active and hope-filled anticipation that we should observe in awaiting the day of our final redemption.
In the Gospel, Jesus reassures us that it pleases the Father to give us the Kingdom – to share with us His divine life and glory. Jesus knows that uncertainty about the future, with its attendant and unpredictable sufferings, can intimidate us. But we are not to give in to fear because in fact, we have greater reason to be confident of the future than the Israelites, because we know that Christ has redeemed us and given us a new life in the Spirit. Aware of our salvation, we can confidently put into practice the Lord’s advice to actively and diligently prepare to welcome the Kingdom of God in us and for us. He urges us to detach ourselves from possessions that distract us from the eternal treasure that is ours. When we let go of our concern for material things, we are free to pursue the will of God because “where our treasure is, there also will our heart be,”(Lk 12:34).
We do not know when Jesus will return, but He urges us to be prepared and vigilant. He demonstrates the importance of such vigilance through a parable about servants who are always ready for their master’s return. He urges us to be on guard because the Son of man may come when we least expect Him, (Lk 12:40). We must be “faithful and farsighted stewards” who, because we are prepared, already anticipate the joy of the Master’s return. But confidence in God’s mercy is not an excuse to be lazy and irresponsible. Because we love the One we serve, we work hard for His glory, even in those times when we feel He is absent.
The opposite of being good stewards is to be irresponsible and ungrateful servants, a foolish way to live. The enjoyment of fleeting benefits is always appealing because we tend to crave immediate gratification, but conscience is a hard task master, and anxiety about being caught off guard by the master is always enough to spoil – not only the future, but also the present – for us. Sin always leaves us empty and dissatisfied. But if we live in hope, we have the opposite experience. Even if we suffer, we find inner peace and joy.
In our trustworthy hope that we can face our present and future with confidence, we already have redemption. No matter how arduous the present may be, we can accept and live it as a life that leads towards a sure goal, a goal so great, it justifies every effort in our faith journey. Such future is a distinguishing mark of Christian life. Faith and hope are characteristic of those who trust in God.
As we allow ourselves to detach from the pleasures and attractions of this world and follow the will of God and persevere, no matter what lies ahead, we treasure what is in our hearts – our relationship with God. This is the freedom we have when we place our hope in God and, through all the ups and downs of life, we prepare for the eternal joy in His presence.
Prayer:
Lord, keep our hearts pure that we will always remain vigilant and ready for your coming. Grant us the grace of sustained faith, that we may always place our hope in You, our Savior and Redeemer, and find the reward of eternal life that is in You. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1.What makes sense to you, a temporary life filled with fleeting pleasures and enjoyment, or a life that is dedicated to the salvation of your soul and prepared for the Final Judgement? Please apply this to your personal situation or experiences.
2.What actions are you taking to heed Christ’s call to be faithful and prudent in living your life as an ordinary citizen, family member, employee or employer, community member?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 7, 2016 (Sun) Wis 187:6-9/Ps 33:1,12,18-22/Heb 11:1-2,8-19/Lk 12:32-38
August8, 2016 (Mon) Ez 1:2-5,24-28/Ps 148:1-2,11-12,12,14/Mt 17:22-27
August 9, 2016 (Tue) Ez 2:8-3:4/Ps 119:14,24,72,103,111,131/Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14
August 10, 2016 (Wed) 2 Cor 9:6-10/Ps 112:1-2,5-6,7-9/Jn 12:24-26 August 11, 2016 (Thu) Ez 12:1-12/Ps 78:56-59,61-62/Mt 18:21-19:1
August 12, 2016 (Fri) Ez 16:1-15,60,63/Is 12:2-3,4-6/Mt 19:3-12
August 13, 2016 (Sat) Ez 18:1-10,13,30-32/Ps 51:12-15,18,19/Mt 19:13-15
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
WSC Reflection 07 August 2016 Final
