19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Gospel Reflection

Luke 12:32-48

 “There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.” These are comforting words from Our Lord and they should speak to all of us. No one desires our salvation, our reaching the greatest of all destinations, more than our Father God. What Abraham was called to and looked forward to in faith – a new land - was still only a stepping stone to the ultimate goal. It was a land of promise looking to a permanent city of fulfillment – the true heaven.

The Letter to the Hebrews (second reading) puts him and others like him before us so as to motivate our life of faith – faith which is the “guarantee of the blessings we hope for” and the proof for “the realities that remain unseen.” Luke, on the other hand, brings together a number of Jesus’ teachings that urge a vigilant attitude, lest we fail to build on this foundation of faith a life of faithful achievement and real service to others. After all, this is what, in some measure, contributes to our future glory. “What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns.”

What Our Lord teaches with this homely image embraces any aspect of our life that begs a just or loving response from us, however small or apparently unnoticed. We might think of such small duties as household tasks, keeping material things in order, being punctual in keeping our commitments to others, or we might also see in this image the importance of giving good example in a place where few appear to know God. Honouring one’s marriage commitment with an undivided heart, day after day; paying attention to the human and

spiritual needs of children; not overindulging oneself at a party or “happy hour” – these and

many other examples could come up in our personal examination of conscience. Probing our conscience is what Our Lord encourages us to do by such pointed analogies.

It is good practice to examine ourselves at the end of each day to see what we have made of its different occasions, of our meetings with other persons. What use have we made of our time. How much was wasted in pointless, passive surfing on the internet, or half asleep in front of a TV monitor. We should not lose sight of the fact that time is not limitless for anyone. One day will be our last in this “tent” that is no permanent dwelling place. Faith, then, ought not to be understood as a pure sentiment, as something we muster to smooth over our disappointments. Instead, it is a conviction of God’s goodness and of his all knowing regard for our personal lives. It is what makes us realize that the good that is done    quietly and ‘in secret’, is not ignored by our Father in heaven, who will reward us in due time. “Because you have been in pauca fidelis, faithful in small things, come and join in your Master’s happiness. The words are Christ’s. In pauca fidelis!...Now will you neglect little things, if heaven itself is promised to those who mind them?”

(St. Josemaria, The Way, 819)

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Our Lord’s very words already give us great consolation. God wants us all to enter into heaven.

Next Friday we will celebrate Our Lady’s entrance into the presence of the Holy Trinity in the life that will never end.