Be Alert, Keep doing the responsibilities.

August 7^th, 2016 Sunday homily  –Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

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

Harold Camping, an Evangical preacher created a stir when he proclaimed that the world would be coming to a disastrous end on May 21, 2011. Some people spent their life savings in preparation for the purported day of reckoning, while others simply laughed off the assertion. When the event didn’t come to pass, Camping doubled down, saying that his estimates were off and that the end times would come, instead, on October 21. Today is August 7^th, 2016. It was not the first prediction. The world has witnessed man’s many such predictions and efforts to welcome the doomsday. Certain groups throughout the centuries have pinpointed the exact day and time it would take place. Contrary to this, Jesus, the Son of God said that nobody knows the day or hour. He tells us to keep on doing our entrusted roles without failure with commitment and alertness, so that God’s kingdom will be established through loving service, keeping our eye on God. There is no room for idleness, negligence, harassment, abuse or atrocities.

Today’s first reading from the book of Wisdom, refers to the events in which God showed his mighty power to save his chosen people from their cruel enemies. The second reading from the book of Hebrews, gives an existential definition of the virtue of faith, and an example of true faith as it can be seen active in Abraham and Sarah.

Today’s gospel from Luke, is a collection of different methods to teach us to live for the Kingdom of God. Jesus in the gospel through the parables tells us that while anticipating our day of judgment, our day of exit from this world to the life-after, we should neither become so preoccupied with the thought that we neglect the day-to-day responsibilities of our entrusted kingdom-work, nor become complacent about that day or engage in a life of selfishness. Instead, while we are waiting, we need to keep on serving God and our fellow beings. Since we do not know the day or time, we must always be ready. Otherwise, we will be left out and held accountable for our actions. Jesus uses two examples, namely, the parable of a master and servants, and guarding the house against thefts.

Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question helps us to understand better the parable with its different implications. On the one hand, Jesus emphasizes that we simply do not know exactly when God is going to ask us to render an account of our life; on the other -- answering Peter's question -- our Lord explains that His teaching is addressed to every individual. God will ask each and every one of us to render an account of our doings. God has entrusted every one of us a mission to fulfill in this life and we have to account for it before the judgment seat of God and be judged on how we fulfilled our God-given responsibility according to His plan within the given time. We may be tempted to follow many fake or short-lived worldly treasures. Our life is not to be wasted by following those outwardly attractive ones. The Kingdom of God is the most valuable and the eternal treasure. Our whole heart should be after this greatest treasure and all our efforts should be towards this goal.

As the Vatican Council II, the decree on ‘The Church’ chapter VII with the title ‘The Pilgrim Church’ says, “Since we know neither the day nor the hour, we should follow the advice of the Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is completed (cf. Hebrews 9:27), we may merit to enter with Him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed (cf. Matthew 25:31-46) and not, like the wicked and slothful servants (cf. Matthew 25:26), be ordered to depart into the eternal fire (cf. Matthew 25:41)" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 48). Let us be vigilant, let us be cautious, let us be the Kingdom oriented. Let us be led by the Spirit. Let us live in such a way that we will rejoice with the master in the banquet hall of heaven.  God bless you.