Sunday 10 August 2025 –XIX Sunday –Ordinary Time – (C)
Theme: A Faith that Waits, Watches, and Walks in
Trust
Mass Readings: Wis 18:6-9 Ps 33
Heb 11:1-2.8-19 Lk 12:32-48
Key Verse to Meditate: "Be
dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight (Lk 12:35).
My dear Brothers
and Sisters in Christ,
The Liturgy of this Nineteenth Sunday invites us to
live as watchful servants, prepared at all times for the Lord’s coming.
Each reading emphasizes a key Christian virtue—faith, which expresses
itself in obedience, hope, and readiness.
In the first reading, from the Book of
Wisdom, we hear a hymn of liberation—a song of faith sung by the
Israelites as they recalled God’s fidelity in delivering them from slavery in
Egypt. They believed with all their hearts that God would set them free—and He
did.
In the second reading, Abraham shows us what
it means to walk by faith. He trusted God even when the path ahead was unclear
and difficult. His journey became a model for all believers. Without faith,
even hope becomes difficult. Our ability to hope is rooted in our trust in God.
This connection between faith and hope is beautifully reflected in today’s second
reading.
In the Gospel, Jesus urges us to be
vigilant, faithful servants—always ready, always trusting, and always obedient.
1. The
First Reading: A Night of Deliverance and Divine Favor
The author of the Book of Wisdom reflects on the
miraculous night of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt—the first Passover. While
Egypt, the land of oppression, was struck with the death of its firstborn,
Israel was spared by the mercy of God. The sign of blood smeared on the
doorposts (Ex 12:7) became a mark of salvation and protection. But beyond
its historical meaning, this act was also a foreshadowing of Christ, the
true Paschal Lamb, whose blood takes away the sin of the world (cf. Jn 1:29).
The reading also emphasizes how God treated the
Israelites not merely as survivors, but as “holy children”—invited into
intimacy with Him through worship, sacrifice, and communion. Despite the
dangers of the desert and opposition from enemies, God glorified them, calling
them into a covenant relationship. This is our story too: God continues to
redeem us from sin and slavery, marks us with the blood of His Son in Baptism,
and calls us His beloved children.
2. The Second Reading: A Journey of Faith and
Obedience
The second reading gives us a rich and beautiful catechesis
on faith. Faith, says the author, is “the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). It’s not wishful thinking—it
is trust in the promises of God, even when we don’t see the full picture.
Abraham is lifted up as a model of faith. He left
his homeland (Gen 12:1. 4), journeyed through foreign lands, lived in tents,
faced threats, and waited for a promised land that he would never fully possess
in his lifetime. He believed—not because everything was clear, but because he trusted
the One who called him. Even more strikingly, Abraham obeyed God’s command
to offer his son Isaac, trusting that God could raise the dead (Heb 11:19; Gen
22:1-3). This is radical faith: faith that walks even when the road is
unclear, and faith that obeys even when the cost is great.
We are heirs of this same promise. Faith demands a
response—not only in belief but in action. Just as Abraham moved, trusted, and
surrendered, so too are we called to live not by sight, but by trust in the
Word and will of God. True faith is not blind but rooted in trust. It is a
journey into the unknown, anchored in God’s promises.
3. The Gospel Reading
Today’s Gospel continues the theme from last
Sunday. In the first part (Lk 12:32–34), Jesus teaches us to be free from
anxiety over material possessions. In the second part (Lk 12:35–48), He
instructs us on how to be spiritually prepared for the coming of the Son of
Man.
Jesus begins by
affectionately calling His disciples the “little flock,” urging them to trust in the Father who
desires to give them the Kingdom (cf. Dan 7:14, 27). In prophetic literature,
the term flock symbolizes both
vulnerability and divine care (Jer 13:17; Ezek 34; Zech 10:3). By calling them
this, Jesus assures them of God's loving protection and the nearness of
salvation.
He urges them: “Sell your possessions and give to charity. Make
purses that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven” (Lk
12:33). Disciples must be detached from earthly concerns and preoccupied with
the Kingdom of God. A heart freed from worry is a heart available for mission.
4. Waiting with Girded Loins and Burning Lamps
Jesus then continues His teaching on discipleship
with a powerful message about readiness and stewardship. “Let your
loins be girded and your lamps burning,” He tells His disciples, “And be
like men waiting for their master to return” (Lk 12:35–36). In ancient
times, servants waited to open the door for the master. If the master returned
and found them awake, he would honour them, even serving them at the table—a
powerful image of divine reward.
This is a call to active vigilance. In
ancient times, servants wore long garments and had to gird their loins—tie up
their robes—to move quickly and serve. The servants should be dressed and keep
their lamps lit so that there is no delay in lighting the master's path into
the house. The burning lamp symbolizes a heart fuelled by grace and alert to
the Lord’s presence. The
faithful servant watches with longing, not out of fear but out of love.
5. Being
Served servants
What is truly remarkable is what Jesus says next:
If the master finds the servant awake, he will
serve the servant—a radical reversal of roles (Lk 12:37). The fidelity of
the servants earns them the astonishing reward of being served rather than serving.
This striking image echoes the scene at the Last Supper, where Jesus, the
Master, girded Himself with a towel and washed the feet of His disciples (Jn
13:4–5). Such is the reward of the faithful: deep intimacy with the Lord and a
share in the joy of His Kingdom.
Jesus also issues a
sobering warning against complacency. Just as a homeowner remains vigilant,
fearing a thief in the night, so must the disciple be watchful and prepared.
Through this parable, Christ teaches that those who are negligent and
unprepared will face serious consequences at the coming of the Son of Man (Lk
12:39–40).
6. The Faithful and Unfaithful Servant
Jesus then contrasts the faithful and unfaithful
servant. The faithful one, entrusted with responsibility, manages it wisely.
The unfaithful one abuses his role and is severely punished. The wise and
faithful servant steadily carries out his master’s wishes and is promoted while
the servant who takes advantage for the master’s delay pays the ultimate
penalty for his folly. The key message is: we are stewards, not owners.
Everything we have—talents, responsibilities, time—is given by God. “To whom
much is given, much will be required” (Lk 12:48).
Jesus also reminds us: “Where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also” (Lk 12:34). This radical phrase means that the heart
aligned with God will have the Kingdom of God as its constant point of
reference. What do
we truly treasure—Heaven or earth? Faith invites us to invest our hearts in
eternal things. This is a solemn reminder for each of us—whether in ministry,
family, or society—we are stewards, not owners, of the gifts entrusted
to us.
7. Points for Personal Reflection
The First Reading shows us God’s faithfulness
to His people. The Second Reading challenges us to respond in obedient faith
like Abraham. And the Gospel shows us how this faith expresses itself in vigilance,
responsibility, and hope. Together, they form a single message: the
Christian life is a pilgrimage of trust, and we must walk it with eyes
fixed on the Lord.
The disciple should be equipped and alert
at all times, ready to meet the Master at the moment of His arrival. The
Evangelist Luke, who identifies Jesus as the coming
Son of Man, places greater emphasis in today’s parables on the coming of the Son of Man rather than on the return of the Master. It is this coming for
which the disciple is called to be prepared. The servants in the Gospel
parables this Sunday also represent the leadership roles of the disciples and
their pastoral responsibilities. As Scripture reminds us: “From everyone who has been given much, much will
be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will
be demanded” (Lk 12:48).
Our Life
of Faith
In the life of Jesus, we witness a profound sense
of urgency to do the will of the Heavenly Father. He once said to His
disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish
His work” (Jn 4:34). Even in His hour of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane,
He prayed with deep submission: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup
from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Lk 22:42).
Living a life of faith is often like leaping into
the unknown. When someone decides to follow the will of God, they will
inevitably face countless moments of uncertainty, temptation, and doubt. Yet,
Jesus assures us, “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt
24:13). Just as He remained obedient unto death, so are we called to imitate
His steadfastness and fidelity.
Faith implies a total surrender to the will
of God—no matter the cost. A life without faith will likely neglect God’s will
in daily decisions. But a person transformed by God’s sanctifying grace
is able to say “yes” to God continually, just as our Blessed Mother Mary
did when she said, “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk
1:38).
Even today, we witness many humble, ordinary
Catholics living extraordinary lives of faith. Their witness may not make
headlines, but their trust in God speaks volumes. We need more than just eyes
to see their example—we need the faith to recognize and be inspired by it. Without
faith, even hope becomes difficult. Our ability to hope is rooted in our trust
in God. This connection between faith and hope is beautifully reflected in
today’s readings.
We Ask
Ourselves
- Where is my treasure?
Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Lk 12:34). Do I treasure eternal life more than earthly possessions? - Am I ready to open the door
to the Lord?
God knocks at the door of our hearts daily (Rev 3:20). Are we alert to His presence in the ordinary moments of life? - How faithful am I as a
steward?
Whether I’m a parent, teacher, priest, or leader—God asks me to be a good and trustworthy steward. Am I using my time, talents, and opportunities well? - Do I have the faith of
Abraham?
Am I willing to obey God even when it’s uncomfortable or uncertain?
Conclusion
Faith is not a one-time decision; it’s a daily “yes” to
God, even amid doubt or darkness. Like Jesus, who said, “Not my will, but Yours
be done” (Lk 22:42), we too are called to a life of obedient love. And like
Mary, we are invited to say, “Be it done to me according to Your word.” May we
grow in faith, stay vigilant, and live with the joyful expectation of meeting
the Lord. Let our lives be a constant echo of readiness: “Speak, Lord, your
servant is listening.”
Faith is not just believing in God; it is living in
such a way that our whole life speaks of trust in His promises. It is walking
like Abraham, trusting like the Israelites, and watching like faithful
servants.
May the Lord find us ready—with girded loins,
burning lamps, and open hearts—eager to welcome Him when He
comes. Amen
