Breaking Open the Word
August 10
Introduction
Readings:
Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20, 22
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Luke 12:32-48
Introduction
In the first reading the Israelites' obedience with the commands God gave Moses on the night of the tenth Egyptian plague led to their salvation. They demonstrated the same obedience of faith in their willingness to remember and relive the events of the Passover redemption according to God's command in every future generation (Ex 13:3-10).
At the remembrance feast of the sacred meal of the first Passover, Jesus offered Himself in the first Eucharistic meal of the Last Supper. The reading shows us a contrast between God's judgment on the Egyptians and His protection of the Israelites, foreshadowing the Final Judgment when God will extend His gift of eternal salvation to the righteous faithful while the disobedient and unbelieving sinners reap His judgment. This passage reminds us that God's protection of the faithful remnant of the just amid acts of divine judgment is a recurring theme in salvation history. It is a theme that begins in the great flood and the protection of Noah's family, to God's punishment of the Egyptians and redemption of the Israelites in the Exodus, and continues to the Final Judgment at the end of time as we know it.
The responsorial Psalm is a hymn of praise telling of God's glory reflected in His creation. As the Lord of human history, God exercises His providence over human affairs. The hymn ends with the people proclaiming that they will place their faith and trust in the Lord. In the Sunday reading we only get 3 snippets of this beautiful psalm; read the entire 33rd Psalm, which is titled “The Greatness and Goodness of God”, it is a beautiful song of praise of God.
The second reading is from Hebrews Chapter 11, which is a roll call of the heroes of the faith. The chapter begins with the examples of the faith-filled lives of Abel, Enoch, and Noah before moving on to Abraham, the subject of today's passage, a model of righteousness and faith in God . The inspired writer of Hebrews testifies that Abraham was willing to obey God in the horrifying command to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac because he believed God would raise his son from death to fulfill His promise that through Isaac God's covenant was to continue through many descendants. Isaac is a type of Christ not only in being the "beloved son" offered for sacrifice by his father but in his salvation from certain death. If you keep reading chapter 11, the heroes roll call of the Old Testament continues with Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Judges, David and Solomon, and the prophets.This one chapter contains the abbreviated Cliff Notes version of the salvation history story of the whole Old Testament.
The Gospel Reading concerns Jesus's challenge to His disciples to make a radical choice by entrusting their lives entirely into God's hands by selling all they had in earthly goods to store up an "inexhaustible treasure in heaven." Then, still addressing the disciples, Jesus changed the topic from concern about worldly possessions to a warning about being watchful and faithful servants. Jesus warned that the focus of this life should be on fidelity to Him and being prepared for His promised return in glory when He would judge the living and the dead.
Gospel Explained
It’s easy to think of this Sunday’s gospel passage as a collection of different messages, jumping from one thought to another. But they are wonderfully connected by the theme of God’s providential care for us, and in how we are going to respond to His loving care. Our response is to use the gifts He has given us, and to be constantly watchful for every opportunity to serve Him.
Jesus makes the following points in this message:
- God loves us and wants what is best for us
- Jesus guides us to detach ourselves from the world’s goods
- Store up treasures in heaven, no one can take from you your good deeds
- Be prepared always, you never know the day which will be your last
- For those who are prepared, Jesus will provide the banquet of blessing
- Those who delay doing the work of God’s kingdom on earth may run out of time
- You will be judged by the degree that you use the gifts for good that God has given you
- Those that waste the gifts God has given will be punished
- Those who never bothered to be aware of God’s gifts in their life will also be admonished
Jesus starts out in this gospel passage as if it is God the Father speaking to us in love, calling us His little flock, telling us to not be fearful because He wants to give us His gifts. Then He talks of being prepared: gird your loins, an expression for being prepared for work or running, which is how the Jews were to eat the first passover meal, standing and ready to depart in the Exodus. Look for the key action words in this gospel: vigilant, immediately, prepared, blessed, faithful, and prudent.
Today's Theme
The theme for today is Faith and Trust in God. Faith and trust in God give us hope for a destiny beyond our earthly existence. How tragic it would be if life were simply a destiny in itself. Knowing that life is a journey toward an eternal destiny gives it a purpose outside oneself, and faith in God makes it a partnership in a meaningful future. Today's readings address the passage through life and how we prepare for what lies beyond.
The Catholic Dictionary defines faith as "The acceptance of the word of another, trusting that one knows what the other is saying and is honest in telling the truth. The basic motive of all faith is the authority (or right to be believed) of someone who is speaking. [..]. It is called divine faith when the one believed is God, and human faith when the persons believed are human beings.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies "faith" as "a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him" (CCC 153). Furthermore, the Catechism also defines "faith" as one of the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love: "Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that He has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because He is truth itself. By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.” For this reason, the believer seeks to know and do God's will. 'The righteous shall live by faith.' Living faith "works through charity" (CCC 1814, quoting Romans 1:17 and Galatians 5:6).
Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1817). Combined with the theological virtue of Love, Faith and Hope allow us to accept the many mysteries of our God which we can’t fully comprehend, like the Trinity, the Resurrection, heaven, angels, and so much more about our faith.
Theme in our Life Today
Today’s gospel ends with: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Our parish is filled with so many talented people. Indeed, each and every one of us have all been given various talents by God, to grow His kingdom on Earth. In the Lord’s Prayer that we recite together out loud at every Mass, when we say “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven”, we’re not asking God to change the world to be like heaven, we’re petitioning Him to help us make the world more like heaven by knowing and doing His will.
We all have a variety of gifts. In Romans 6:4-8 St. Paul wrote: “For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
We are going to be judged by how we use God’s gifts and talents, and we are all going to run out of time to accomplish this, someday. So ponder your God-given talents and gifts and consider how you could be using them to increase the kingdom of God here on earth, starting with our parish, in our community, and with our families. We have need for the great variety of your skills and abilities.
Prepare for Sunday
1. Try to take a more active role in the parish, there are many needs for volunteers
2. Read all of Hebrews chapter 11
3. Read the 33rd Psalm
Let us pray: (a prayer from St. Theresa of Avila)
Hope, O my soul, hope.
You know neither the day nor the hour.
Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly,
even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain,
and turns a very short time into a long one.
Dream that the more you struggle,
the more you prove the love that you bear your God,