Sunday Gospel Reflection
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 12:32-48 | August 7, 2022
Discipline in Our Faith
Carlo Dureza
The gospel today illumines another round of Christ’s teachings—deep, sensible, and correct. It feeds us precious insights on how to live an authentic Christian life.
It is not wrong or selfish to aspire for wealth. We have the inherent right to enjoy life’s pleasures and bask in its comforts. But, if being materially rich severely eclipses our love for God, then we would be liable to judgement.
We are told to rely trustfully on God’s provisions as He would always give our needs generously, not to worry, to share our possessions with the poor, and to cherish our relationship with Him as “purses that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys.”
The Lord asks us to make Him our most valuable possession, our only treasure where our hearts must be nestled. This is foremost.
Secondly, our God teaches us to be ready for Him always. We must always feel His presence and be prepared for His visits in our lives. He would delight in us when our hearts are filled with ardent yearning for Him. This would be the proof of our love for our God.
We are likened to servants who must be watchful and prepared for the Master’s coming. Good servants are those whose master finds them vigilant for his arrival, those who immediately “open the door for him when he knocks whether at midnight or daybreak.”
Our preparedness indicates that we purposely await Him. This anticipation means He is welcome in our lives. He would be so happy that our hearts and arms are wide open to receive Him, so He tells us to be ready at all times “because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Lastly, our Lord would like us to grow as trustworthy servants. Since we serve the Master, we must be godly in our conduct, dependable, and respectful. We must be upright even in our most unguarded moments. As servants, we must not deceive or abuse our Master and take advantage of his goodness. Seen or not, we must do whatever He expects of us.
Only when we have proven ourselves to be conscientious servants would our Lord put us in charge of His possessions and over His household. He would task us to be the leader of His other servants. Our responsibility would then be bigger. He says, “from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Let us practice discipline in our faith. May we not perceive God’s commands as just a set of plain rules to be loosely followed but as means for taking our relationship with the Lord more seriously.
May we recognize TRUE WEALTH, be PREPARED for God’s coming, and become DILIGENT servants whose rewards await in due time.
Happy Sunday! Godbless!!😀👏😇❤
