Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
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.
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;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
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.
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.
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,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
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.
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,
of whom it was 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.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
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.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
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.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.
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.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
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?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
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.”
Reflection
Today’s readings continue the theme of the last few Sundays and remind us that this world is not our permanent home. In the second reading from Hebrews, the sacred author describes how the descendants of Abraham knew themselves to be strangers on earth and desired their better, heavenly homeland. Likewise, we are all made by the Divine for the Divine. Our true origin--and destiny--is Heaven. The Gospel echoes this reminder that God has prepared a place for us and that He offers us the Kingdom. However, this wonderful truth requires us to live our earthly lives accordingly.
Christ reminds us to live in a state of faithful, obedient vigilance. We do not know when the end of our lives or the end of time will come to pass, and so we must not assume that we can cram in holiness at the last minute. We want to be the blessed servants whom the Master finds vigilant upon His arrival. What is more, for those whom God has given this knowledge of the truth and the gifts to spread it, even more is expected.
All of us have different ways of fulfilling our baptismal call to be missionary disciples, but we all share the call, and God will expect to see us living it faithfully when judgement day comes. We are immensely blessed to know the truth, to encounter and taste our eternal destinies already in the Sacraments, and to be able to love and follow Jesus on earth through the Church. These priceless privileges carry with them Christ’s warning that “much will be required of the person entrusted with much.” We have all been entrusted with the Kingdom of God. Do we live like we taste Heaven every week at Mass? Do we live like we have heard the Gospel message?
The letter to the Hebrews summarizes Abraham’s life of faith, inseparable from his trusting obedience. We are to imitate Abraham, knowing that God keeps His promises and gives us whatever we need, and submit to the will of God. Faithful obedience is our preparation for the Master’s return.
All this being said, Jesus’ injunction to vigilance is accompanied by a gentle reminder: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” We are called to be ready, not to be afraid. God is pleased to have us with Him for an eternity of joy, and He will help us to be ready--if we cooperate with His grace.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
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