12/08/2007 - 19. Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
First Reading: Book of Wisdom 17: 5-8 Psalm: 33
Second Reading: Hebrews 11: 1-2; 8-12 Gospel: Luke 12: 32-48
The people of the Hebrews cannot forget the fire column that enlightened their
painful road towards freedom. When this people was to cross the unknown desert,
with its dangers and the possibility to mistake the way, it recognised the presence
of the Lord and His helpful hand in this column of fire and cloud, that showed
them the way. Since that time they enjoyed the assistance of the Lord who ha
always been with them, in different ways, defending them against the enemies
or giving them an easier way. This permanent divine presence is a fountain of
life and courage. Those who have had this experience will never forget it; they
can never doubt about it!
Faith is actually the complete and permanent adhesion to the presence of God
in our life; a God who is near us, who is walking with us, a God that is enlightening
our nights, helping us in our difficulties.
Abraham is the classical instance of the true faithful. The Letter to the Hebrews
(2nd Reading) presents us his personality. Each step of him is a step of faith;
by faith he was obedient; by faith he set out without knowing where he was going,
by faith he sojourned in a foreign country; by faith he offered his son Isaac.
His whole life and all his decisions are full of faith. Faith is the atmosphere
in which Abraham is living so that those who are living with or around him are
participating in this faith; also Sara and his son Isaac have their life filled
with that kind of scent of the real and permanent presence of God.
Jesus wants the same thing for his disciples and for this new People of God,
the Church, that will have his roots in His Word and in the Holy Spirit. Jesus
suggests or rather He orders us to live in such a way that will give the Lord
possibility and opportunity to show His presence as a providing Father. The
disciple of Christ is not anxious to accumulate riches and wealth in this world
in order to find thus security for the future; he will not do it, because he
knows that his heavenly Father is the Lord of History! The disciple will rather
try and strive in order to have a treasure in the Heart of God. Our treasures
in the Heart of God are our acts of generosity in order to help the poor peoples
who, when they will be arrived to heaven, they will intercede for those who
have been helpful to them in their days of difficulties.
Christ's disciples are different from other people, from men of this world,
because in their life they are always expecting Someone who has to come and
who will came; they do every thing in order that, when He will come He will
find welcome and love. They are living like servants of a Master who engaged
them as servants to each other. He will not ask anything else than that they
have been faithful in this service: for those who are faithful in this service,
life will be a perpetual feast of communion. Lord himself, the Master, will
put on an apron and "proceed to wait on them". The greatness of Christ's
disciple is the real and true greatness of man; this greatness is coming from
this apron that will never be put away. We are not true children of God, nor
religious men or women if we are not faithful servants who are never aiming
to be important. In this world our duty is to make know this new message: really
big or important are those who are serving; more important are those who are
serving always; near God are those who never stop serving. Men will find the
presence of God in the love and in the service that is living by the disciples
of Jesus. Through this love God will go on convoying men to salvation. By serving
in the disciples will offer everyone the light of faith and the certainty that
God loves all peoples, is attending an awaiting them .