Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” July-August 2022

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
3rd week of the Psalter

FIRST READING

From the Book of Wisdom (Wis 18:6-9)
The night [of liberation] was foretold to our fathers, so that they might have courage, knowing well to what oaths they had pledged their fidelity. For your people awaited the salvation of the righteous and the ruin of their enemies. Indeed, just as you punished their adversaries, so you glorified us, calling us to yourself. The holy children of the righteous offered sacrifices in secret and, in harmony, imposed this divine law upon themselves: to share equally in successes and dangers, immediately singing the sacred praises of their fathers. – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the First Reading

The Book of Wisdom presents us with several concise passages that reread, “in a wise manner” (that is, according to the mind of God), what happened in the history of Israel, seeking and revealing its deepest meaning. These four verses summarize how the children of Israel experienced the event of paschal liberation. What is emphasized? Paschal liberation was an event that was announced and desired. In Scripture, whatever God intends to do is announced so that it may become an object of expectation and desire. Through the announcement, God prepares our hearts to experience what he is ready to accomplish for us, so that we too, not overwhelmed by surprise, may participate in God's saving action. Living responsibly and consciously the saving action that God accomplishes requires commitment and a bond of fidelity. God does not treat us merely as recipients of a work; from the creation of the world, and even more so in redemption, God wants us to be co-responsible through the covenant by which he asks us to bind ourselves to him.

SECOND READING

From the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 11:1-2, 8-19)
Brothers and sisters, faith is the assurance of what is hoped for and the conviction of what is not seen. Because of this faith, our ancestors were approved by God. By faith, Abraham, called by God, obeyed by departing for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he left without knowing where he was going. By faith, he dwelt in the promised land as in a foreign region, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was awaiting the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God himself. By faith, Sarah herself, although beyond the age, received the ability to become a mother, because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. Therefore, from one man, and one already marked by death, was born a numerous offspring, as numerous as the stars of the sky and the countless grains of sand along the seashore. In faith, all these died without having received the promised blessings, but they saw and greeted them from afar, declaring that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Those who speak in this way show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the one from which they had come, they would have had the opportunity to return; but now they aspire to a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. Indeed, he has prepared a city for them. By faith, Abraham, when put to the test, offered Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it had been said: “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol. – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Second Reading

Abraham is praised for his faith. It has three characteristics: obedience, trust, and fidelity. These are founded on the knowledge of God as the one who is almighty, truthful, and faithful to his promises. The term obedience comes from the Latin “ob-audire,” meaning “to listen.” At the basis of obedience, therefore, is listening to the word of God, which calls people to live in intimate friendship with him. Faith always contains an element of darkness, because it does not involve complete understanding of what one believes. Faith requires trust and surrender. Abraham trusts God's word because he knows that God is truth in person. Abraham's fidelity consists in the decision, made once and for all, to obey God without reconsidering his will in the face of trial. Let us ask ourselves whether we too have a faith like Abraham's: do we trust God even in the face of trials and difficulties, or do we draw back, failing to recognize God's omnipotence and placing our reasoning above God's thoughts?

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 12:32-48)
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell what you own and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief reaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Be ready, with your garments tucked into your belts and your lamps lit; be like those waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he returns; truly I tell you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and come to serve them. And should he come in the middle of the night or before dawn and find them so, blessed are they! Understand this: if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect». Then Peter said: «Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?». The Lord replied: «Who then is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master, upon arriving, finds doing so. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that servant says in his heart: “My master is delaying his coming,” and begins to beat the male and female servants, to eat, drink, and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and he will punish him severely and assign him a place among the unfaithful. The servant who knew his master's will but did not prepare or act according to his will will receive many blows; but the one who did not know it and did things deserving of blows will receive fewer. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much, and more will be demanded of the one entrusted with more». – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the Day

Jesus' disciples are destined to be, throughout history, a little flock. Little not only in number, but because it is made up of simple people, without power or support in the world. At the same time, it is strong because of the love and protection of the heavenly Father, who is its sole wealth, which never fails. In his love, the Father wants to give this little flock the Kingdom, to let it share in his life, and to carry it in the palm of his hand, from which no one will ever be able to snatch it. What is decisive, then, is the call to “littleness.” It is a warning against the temptation to stand out and be admired by others: no pride or arrogance should dwell in the disciples, but rather the humility of those who place their trust only in the Father and in his Kingdom. It is not enough for us to call ourselves Christians to be part of the “little flock”; we must be men and women who trust in Jesus. We must fear nothing from outside: the only serious threat can come from ourselves, from our inability to love the Lord Jesus and to remain ready for his coming in glory. It is this watchful waiting that gives meaning to our lives and inspires our daily conduct.