August 11, 2019
Readings:
First Reading: Wisdom 18: 6-9
Psalm 33: “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.”
Second Reading: Hebrew 11: 1-2, 8-12
Gospel reading according to Luke 12:
32-48
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Homily:
After Jesus admonishing the greedy rich
man with regards to his brother’s inheritance to be shared with him which he
did not need but just to satisfy his hunger, discontentment and unassisted
desire for his barns were already full, Jesus encouraged His disciples not to
be afraid for all their needs and wants but to have confidence to His
Providential God and Father who gives all good gifts, even His Reign—Kingdom. “Jesus
said to his disciples: ‘Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your
Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12: 32). There is nothing to fear for or worry about
with regards to our needs such as food, clothing, shelter, all everyday basic needs;
God knows all our heart’s desire and He really wants us to give all our needs.
He also encouraged his disciples not to
be dependent on their own wealth, on their own properties, in all the things
they have. Life and needs do not depend
on what we have, especially in the material things. He was saying to us to detach ourselves to
earthly things which are not necessary in life, and in death especially when we
are about to go to heaven. Nothing here
on earth can we carry to heaven. That
was why, he said: “’Sell your belongings
and give alms. . . .’” (Luke 12: 33).
There were many people who heeded and obeyed and did to this command of
our Lord Jesus Christ. For example, there were (Saints) Anthony of Egypt,
Abbot, Francis and Clare of Assisi, Bernard of Quintavalle, and many other
saints and people of goodwill; they sold their properties and the proceeds were
given to the poor, to the beggars, as sign of their renunciation of the earthy
and material things in exchange of heavenly things.
Instead of keeping our money/earthly
wealth in a bag/sack that wore out easily and sometimes eaten by termites, keep
instead of heavenly bags that last forever.
“. . . ’Provide money bags for
yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no
theft can reach or moth destroy’.” (Luke 12: 33). If we put all what we have received, although
nothing belongs to us except our sins, as what St. Francis said, all comes from
the good Lord, in the hands of those who have nothing, the poor, then no thief
can steal them or moth to eat them. The money or alms that we have given to the
poor/beggars are like money that we send and keeping money bag in heaven. We fill our bags and sack with treasures in
heaven every moment we give them away to the poor and the needy.
Jesus, as if saying to his followers, to
us also, where our treasure is, that is, for example, our earthly
treasure/wealth that we keep in our wooden coffers, there and then our heart is
laying; our attentions and worries, and our time, and even our mind is focus in
our treasure chest. “’For where your treasure is, there also will
your heart be’.” (Luke 12: 34). But
Jesus wanted us to put all our efforts, all our energies, all longings and
desires, all our thoughts belong to our treasure chest in heaven. A good example of this saying of Jesus about
heart vis-à-vis treasure is found in the life of St. Anthony of Padua. There was in the life of St. Anthony that
this saying of our Lord Jesus Christ happened.
“Once Anthony was asked to preach at the funeral of the notorious usurer
of Florence. His sermon was on the
Gospel text: "For where your
treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Luke 12: 34). Moved by divine grace, Anthony suddenly
exclaimed: “This rich man is dead and
behold, he is buried in hell! Open his
coffer, and amongst his coins you will find his heart, because it is no longer
in his breast.” (Bede Clancy, A Brief
Life of St. Anthony of Padua, “Scourge of Sinners,” St. Anthony Shrine,
Sampaloc, Manila, 1985, p. 28). Put our
heart where it belongs. Let our hearts
be captive of heaven. The treasure of the Church is the poor, the infirm, and
the beggars who lived by the alms of the faithful.
Jesus gave a symbolic gesture on how we
can put our valuable treasure to our heart – by serving faithfully the poor. Instead of becoming servants of worldly
allurement and pleasure, be servants of the poor Christ crucified. “’Gird
your loin and light your lamp . . .’” (Luke 12: 35). As what he did and showed us as an example in
the upper room, where he tied a towel on his waist, washed the feet of his
disciples, and served the Last Supper as preparation for his coming death until
he comes again in his glory and of the Reign-Kingdom of God happens.
Jesus taught his disciples to be like
servants waiting for the coming of their master from weeding feast. “. . . ‘and
be like servants who wait their master’s return from wedding, ready to open
immediately when he comes and knocks’.”
(Luke 12: 36). They must be
always ready to open the door for their master immediately when he knocks at
the door. The good servants are always
ready to serve their master. “’Blessed
are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arriival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them’.” (Luke 12: 37). They seldom sleep, if they had a nap or short
sleep, it is only to prolong their waiting mode that they have enough strength
to wait for the coming of their master. The
good servant is one who only thinks what is good or best for his master. For their concern to their master, there is a
probability that their master will reciprocate the goodness of his servants. The master will become a servant and he waits
the servants at the table. Although the
servants do not know the time of the arrival of their master, they make a vigil;
they remain awake in the second or third watch of the night, up until
dawn. “’And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared
in this way, blessed are those servants’.” (Luke 12: 38). They remain awake. There is no sleep in their eyes. When their master comes, they are ready and prepare
to serve him. Thus, their master will
appreciate them.
To bring to the fore his message, Jesus
used this saying, “’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’.” (Luke 12: 39). The master of the house always thinks the
safety of his household. He never allows
that the thief will enter his house, he will guard it. The more he will become careful for he knows
that that thief is coming to his house on exact hour to rob him. The more he prepares for he does not know if
the thief is coming to his house or not, what time or hour of his coming. “’You
also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will
come’.” (Luke 12: 40). What we know,
we do not know the mind of the thief, so it is we to be vigilant and always
ready the moment the thief attacks, or Jesus comes into our lives.
In the group there was Peter, one of his
first Apostles. He wanted to clarify and
own this saying of Jesus. “Then Peter said, ‘Lord, is this parable
meant for us or for everyone?’” (Luke 12: 41). He wanted to know if the saying is intended
only to his circle of Apostles or for those who have ears to hear and do the
saying. “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’.” (Luke 12: 42-43).
Though he did not directly pointed out and said to whom he intended the saying,
he was referring to all who heard his saying, ad extending even to us. “’Truly,
I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property’.” (Luke 12:
44). On the one hand, the servants who did the master’s will, who waited and
prepared the coming of his master and protected the house of the master will be
given bigger responsibility for he can trusted them.
On the other hand, the servants who did
not do the master’s will, who did not wait and prepare the coming of their
master and did not protect the house of the master will be given bigger
punishment. “’But if this 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 him 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’.” (Luke 12: 45-47). If that
servant believed that his master will be delayed in coming home, and abused his
co-servants, and felt he is the master of the house so he took drunk and ate a
lot, and lived like a king, when it so happened that his master arrived and
witnessed such condition and violation of the master’s will, 100% guaranteed
that he will receive severe punishment and will be thrown out of the house and
place with other unfaithful servants.
In concluding his saying to Peter and to
the rest of his disciples, Jesus guaranteed and assured them of the required
responsibility entrusted to them. “’Much
will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be
demanded of the person entrusted with more’.” (Luke 12: 48). The more responsibility is given to the
servants, the more expectations are required from them. Anyone who has given responsibility is
expected that he or she will do 100+% whatever task is given to him or her.
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