19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 12:32-48) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
FIRST READING - Wis 18:6-9
"For by the same means with which you punished our adversaries, you glorified us."
A reading from the Book of Wisdom
That night was known beforehand to our ancestors,
so that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage.
7 The expectation of your people
was the salvation of the righteous and the destruction of their foes.
8 For by the same means with which you punished our adversaries,
you glorified us whom you had summoned.
9 For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice
and carried out with one mind the divine institution.
SECOND READING - Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
"Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God."
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews
1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence[b] of things not seen. 2 Because of it the ancients were well attested.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 9 By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. 11 By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age—and Sarah herself was sterile—for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. 12 So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
13 All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, 14 for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” 19 [a]He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 12:32-48
"You also must be prepared."
✠From the Gospel according to Luke
32 Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Vigilant and Faithful Servants.[a] 35 “Gird your loins and light your lamps 36 and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 38 And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. 39 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. 40 You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
41 Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” 42 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? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’[b] and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 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. 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; 48 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. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.
19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 12:32-48)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The words of God in today's Gospel, God remind everyone to be vigilant, faithful, and loyal to God. He always loves and prepares a reward for His people, which is the Kingdom of Heaven. He said: 'Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.' Therefore, all the little flocks of God, rejoice and live according to His teachings: do not worry about earthly life, do not be concerned with accumulating worldly material wealth, but rather seek the Kingdom of Heaven. Store up treasures in Heaven, which are charity, love, tolerance, forgiveness, sacrifice, and humility. By practicing these virtues, one will have treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin cannot destroy, and thieves cannot steal. These treasures will always be pleasing to God and will help everyone enter the happiest place, which is the Kingdom of Heaven.
At the same time, God also requires people to obey and act according to His commands, which are: sell all that you have to help others and perform acts of charity, because those possessions will be beneficial when people know how to love and share with one another.
God also invites everyone: be vigilant and faithful to Him, and always be ready to await the day God calls each one to return to God the Father. Living in this world is a constant battle with Satan. Satan will not easily spare the children of God. He will always lurk to tempt, to persecute, and to draw the children of God away from Him. God knows that humans are weak, so He lovingly reminds everyone: Be vigilant at all times and in all places, especially against the temptations of money, status, and worldly power.
Today’s Word of God teaches people to live faithfully, to remain loyal to God, and to follow His teachings. God will give a worthy reward to those who are faithful to Him until the end. However, He also reminds us that He will punish those who have received abundant grace from Him but fail to live according to His teachings. As the Word of God has spoken—and He will fulfill it: whoever knows the will of the Master, the will of God, but does not carry it out, will be beaten more. Whoever knows little of God's will and fails to act will be beaten less. To whom much is given, much will be required. This is the Word of God that He wants to remind everyone of, so that all may be aware of the graces He bestows. Do not be contemptuous or indifferent to the blessings and graces that God grants each person, but rather make them fruitful by helping to save souls for Him.
Be vigilant before the callings of God. Be vigilant before the judgments of God upon His children. Do not walk in darkness anymore, but return to God. Be faithful and loyal to Him until your last breath. Practice living according to God’s commands, which are to be charitable, loving, and forgiving; and worship and revere God above all else, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Whoever is faithful and perseveres in practice will receive a worthy reward — the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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