19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran
We love the word “Faithful,” so when we talk about a faithful friend, faithful parishioner, faithful worker, faithful husband, faithful wife, faithful Christian, faithful in prayer or being faithful in keeping a promise this means that we need to be “Faithful or Watchful in waiting” for Jesus. Jesus speaks about the faithful servant. We are therefore invited to be faithful to the end. The combination of Faith and Love create good works together and lead man towards God.
Today’s readings call us to have faith and trust in God. Today’s first reading says about how the providence of God has protected the chosen people throughout their history, especially during the time of their enslavement in Egypt and during their Exodus to freedom to the promised land under the leadership of Moses.
In today’s second reading, we heard of the faith and patience of Abraham, his wife Sarah, his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob. Abraham shined in faith and patience. Even though Sarah was barren, Abraham believed his wife would conceive, even when she was too old because God told him, he would have many descendants would be born of him, these numbering as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. When asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, he believed that God could raise someone from the dead. In all things, Abraham had faith in God. He patiently waited to see how the goodness of God would develop. Such faith and patience is the model that all Christians should strive to imitate.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples to trust the Father’s promise to give them eternal happiness in His kingdom. However, they are to be prepared at all times because the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour, either at the moment of their death or at the end of the world, whichever comes first. Using the master – thief parable, Jesus warns us to be on our guard so that the thief (or the devil), may not steal our treasure of Divine grace and our relationship with God by his temptations. Using the master – servant parable, Jesus reminds us always to do the will of God by obeying Jesus’ commandment of love and offering humble and sacrificial service to others.
We always need to be prepared to meet Our Lord as our Judge, let us always remember the words of the scripture “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him and he with me.” Since nobody is sure about the time of his or her death, we must always be prepared to face Jesus our Lord and Savior as our Judge. At the moment of our death, we must give an account of our lives.
He wants to see that we have kept our personal relationship with him by growing in holiness; such a growth is assisted by talking with Him daily and listening to His voice in the Bible readings, by asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit every day, through offering our lives on the altar , receiving spiritual nourishment in Holy Communion during the Holy Mass, by becoming reconciled with God every day, asking for His pardon and forgiveness with a repentant heart, and seeking His forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation for sins. And finally by obeying Jesus’ commandment of love of thy neighbor which is proven by service for God’s people all around us with faith and trust in the Lord.
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