19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Wisdom 18:6-9 | Psalm 32:1,12,18-20,22 | Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19 | Luke 12:32-48
Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended. (Hebrews 11:1-2)
In today’s second reading, St. Paul reminds us that our belief in God centers on our faith that He will make good on His promise to bring us to a heavenly and eternal homeland. It is on the basis of this promise that we willingly deny ourselves all that is anathema to Him, everything that opposes love of God and love of neighbour.
It is on the basis of this promise that we reject the examples of the hedonistic others, those who believe that this life is all there is, and should therefore be enjoyed to the fullest, even at the expense (and sometimes because) of others’ pain and suffering. Arms dealers and corrupt leaders are just the most obvious examples; I’m sure each of us could point to a half-dozen people in our lives who routinely take their “lessers” for granted, and have no kind words for anyone whom they aren’t trying to curry favour with.
It is on the basis of this promise that we especially reject the examples of those who have a foot in both camps, “hedonistic believers” who want to have their cake of eternal life and eat the earthly chocolate fudge brownie too. I’m sure each of us could also point to a half-dozen people in our lives who try to serve both God and mammon, professed Christians who nevertheless minimize their time in communion with God, and taking great relish in running roughshod with pointed studs over others in their bid for money and power.
As Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel:
The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. (Luke 12:47-48)
We know what God wants of us; we cannot claim ignorance. Let us instead claim responsibility and love others as we ourselves would want to be loved, without hesitation, reservation, or ulterior motive.
Amen.