19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word: Life in Christ assures us of our heavenly inheritance.
Theme: Life in Christ assures us of our heavenly inheritance when we remain faithful, prudent and vigilant stewards.
Promise: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” (Lk 12: 37a)
Reflection:
The liturgical readings for this Sunday remind us about faith and hope which are virtues of those who trust in God. In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, he expresses faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen,” (Heb 11:1). As Christ’s followers, our faith is particularly challenged especially during these times when there is so much uncertainty about our future. Can we truly believe that God is working in our lives? Do we believe that we are part of the reign of God? Do we trust in God’s promises with faith and hope?
The assurance of our ultimate destination with God in heaven is seen in the Book of Wisdom where Abraham’s faith is manifested. We recall God promised the children of Israel that they will possess the Promised Land, and even while they were enslaved by the Egyptians, the Israelites believed that God will fulfil His divine plan for them. Their faith gave them hope while they awaited their deliverance from Egypt to the Promised Land.
In the Responsorial Psalm, we acknowledge that we are the people whom God has chosen to be His own. We are the people who would inherit His kingdom, enjoying His kindness and His protection as we wait on Him with faith and hope. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us of Abraham’s strong faith in the Lord when he obeyed God’s bidding to sojourn to the unknown Promised Land. God rewarded him with a son in his old age and told him that he would be father to “descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and countless as the sands on the seashore.” Even when tested by the Lord, Abraham relented and freely offered his only son, Isaac, to God. And his faithfulness was rewarded.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of being prepared for His second coming. We are cautioned to be always vigilant and ready as we await for the fulfilment of the reign of God. But without expectant faith and enduring hope, we may have the tendency to be complacent and let our spiritual guards down. As Christians, we are called to live a life according to the teachings of Jesus and to prepare for the reign of God. We look forward to the day when we will arrive at our final destination, the promise of eternal life. What is going to happen next? We anticipate the future, yet we are hesitant to participate in the here and now. We expect the return of the Master, yet we may not be prepared for His coming by doing what is expected of us.
God is asking us to commit ourselves, our whole mind, body and soul, to His divine plan. God promised us the ultimate victory and be a part of His eternal reign. We just need to remain faithful to Jesus, be prudent in our ways and be spiritually vigilant and prepared. Let us live out our call as His Christian disciples and do our mission of proclaiming the Good News to our brothers and sisters. We must express our faith and hope in God in the assurance that He will fulfil His promise, “Blessed are those servants whom the Master finds vigilant on his arrival,” (Lk 12: 37a).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, as our model of faithfulness to Your plan. You gave us the gift of faith so that we too may respond by following Your plan for our lives. Please forgive us for the times when we were complacent and not prepared in living out Your will. Continue to empower us by the presence of Your Holy Spirit so that we can fully commit ourselves to Your reign even when we do not know what the future holds. Help us to fully trust in You. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:
- How can I help others to understand that life on earth has meaning, a future and an ultimate goal in God?
- What actions should I take to respond to Christ’s admonition to be faithful and prudent in my life and be prepared for the Final Judgment?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 7, 2022 (Sun) – Wis 18:6-9/ Ps 33:1,12,18-22/ Heb 11:1-2,8-19/ Lk 12:32-48
August 8, 2022 (Mon) – Ez 1:2-5, 24-28/ Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 12, 14/ Mt 17:22-27
August 9, 2022 (Tue) – Ez 2:8-3:4/ Ps 119:14,24,72,103,111,131/ Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14
August 10, 2022 (Wed) – 2 Cor 9:6-10/ Ps 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-9/ Jn 12:24-26
August 11, 2022 (Thu) – Ez 12:1-12/ Ps 78:56-59, 61-62/ Mt 18:21-19:1
August 12, 2022 (Fri) – Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63/ Is 12:2-3, 4-6/ Mt 19:3-12
August 13, 20122 (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!”
