August 7th - 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Wis 18:6—9; Heb 11:1-2,8-19; Lk 12:32-48)

In the Gospel parable, there is an element of surprise in the story of the master returning home unexpectedly after the marriage feast. Will he catch his servant sleeping rather than keeping watchful guard over his master's estate? And how about the person who possessed great wealth, but woke up one day to discover that a thief had carried it all off.

This parable also contains a lesson in faithfulness and a warning against sloth. Why is faithfulness so important to God? For one, it's the foundation for any lasting and meaningful relationship. Faithfulness or fidelity allows us to persevere in living out an unswerving commitment. The Lord is committed to us in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity. That is what covenant means – keeping one's word, promise, and commitment no matter how tough or difficult it gets. Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that he expects of us. The temptation while the Master is away is to put off for tomorrow what we know the Master expects us to do today.

• The first reading retells part of the Exodus story. “That night” is Passover, the night God killed all the first born in Egypt so that Pharaoh would finally allow the Israelites to leave. The oaths are God’s promises to give Abraham’s descendants a homeland. Has God made any promises to you? How courageously do you await God’s promises?
• In the Gospel, how do you think the disciples reacted to Jesus’ command to sell their belongings?  What do the things you own reveal about you? How readily do you share what you have?
• How can you grow in faithfulness?  How ready are you to give God an account of your faithfulness, fidelity and stewardship?