XIXth Sunday in ORdinary TIme

XIXth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Wisdom 18:6-9; Heb. 11: 1-2, 8-19 ;Gosple: Luke12: 32-48

According to an old fable, a man made an unusual agreement with Death. He told the Grim Reaper that he would willingly accompany him when the time came to die, but only on one condition – that Death would send a messenger well in advance to warn him. Weeks turned into months, and months into years. Then one bitter winter evening, as the man sat thinking about all his possessions, Death suddenly entered the room and tapped him on the shoulder. Startled, the man cried out, "You're here so soon and without warning! I thought we had an agreement." Death replied, "I've more than kept my part. I've sent you many messengers. Look in the mirror and you'll see some of them." As the man complied, Death whispered, "Notice your hair! Once it was full and golden, now it is thin and white. Look at the way you tilt your head to listen to me because you can't hear very well. Observe how close to the mirror you must stand to see yourself clearly. Yes, I've sent many messengers through the years. I'm sorry you're not ready, but the time has come for you to leave."
The central theme of today’s readings is the necessity of vigilant preparedness in the followers of Christ. Jesus uses two comparisons to explain the nature of the vigilance required of us. We must be ready for action like an oriental servant or like an oil lamp trimmed for service. The long flowing robes worn by people of the day were a hindrance to work. When a man prepared himself to work, he gathered up his robes under his girdle (belt) in order to leave himself free for activity. The reference to fastened belts and lamps burning ready also recalled the preparedness for action which was legislated for Israel in the Passover ritual (Exodus 12:1).
Since the time of our death is quite uncertain, we, too, must be ever ready to meet our Lord at any moment. He should find us carrying out our task of love, mercy and service, rather than leaving things undone or half-done. He should also find us at peace with God, ourselves and with our fellowmen (Eph.4:26)

The Lord comes unexpectedly into our lives everyday through events and people we meet. But the ultimate, unexpected coming of the Lord in our lives is the moment of death. We should be watchful to recognize the Lord and prepared to meet him in the little unexpected opportunities of everyday life. This is the best way to prepare for the ultimate encounter with the Lord at the hour of death.
During his sermon, an evangelist asked all who wanted to go to heaven to raise their hands. Everyone in the audience did so--except for one elderly man sitting near the front of the auditorium. The preacher pointed his finger at him and said, "Sir, do you mean to tell us that you don't want to go to heaven?" "Sure I do," the old man answered, "but the way you put the question, I figured you were getting up a busload for tonight!'

Linda Taylor was putting her three tiny tots to bed. Suddenly Peggy, who had just begun kindergarten, said thoughtfully, Mommy, if the world came to an end, right now Would I have to take my library book back, or would it be okay to leave it at home?"

Peggy's innocent question and Jesus' sobering words invite us to ask, "How ready am I to meet my Maker, at this very moment?"
Seneca says: That day which you fear as being the end of all things is the birthday of your eternity.

The first sentences of today’s gospel speaks about how to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord.
Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This takes us to the last Sunday’s reading too. Money doesn’t bring happiness, everyone agrees. But then we go straight back to pursuing it as if it did. A full purse, like a full stomach, makes you want to go to sleep. We become oblivious of everything except the stock market or our business – and that is a kind of sleep. All great religious figures kept shouting, ‘Wake up!’ It is not that everyone was dozing in the sun; no they were not: they were making money.

Our preciousness in God’s eyes is contrasted with the preciousness of material treasures. We get our value from the Creator and not the accumulation of other creatures. Our heart’s desires will announce to which kingdom we belong.
Money is seductive because it appears to be the key to everything and everywhere. There was once a wealthy man who decided to donate a large amount of money to a monastery. To his great surprise, the abbot said, “No thanks, we have enough at present.” The rich man pressed him to take it anyway, but he refused politely. Suddenly the rich man began to weep. “You have made me realise how poor I am,” he said, “I have nothing to offer you except money.”

Jesus gave many warnings about the seductions of wealth. There is nothing wrong with the material things of the world in themselves. If my purse is always full, I will think only about getting a bigger purse. And it will fade gradually from my awareness that half the world is hungry. And I may also fail to notice that I am hungry myself, because my heart is empty. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If money is my treasure, there will be nothing in my heart except money. Let’s take to heart seriously the warning of Jesus and be alert and watchful for we don’t know when the Lord comes.