Homily (Reflection) for the Nineteenth
Sunday of the Year (C) (11th August, 2019) on the Gospel
Wis 18:6-9;
Ps 32:1.12.18-20.22. (R.v.12);Heb 11:1-2.8-19 or Heb 11:1-2.8-12;
Lk 12:32-48 or Lk 12:35-40.
Topic: Procrastination is deadly.
Today’s gospel starts with these words
of consolation and admonition,
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it
is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions,
and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing
treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Many people have plans of preparing unfailing treasure in
heaven. The very big problem is when. Many keep procrastinating.
We ought to be ever ready like servants waiting for their
master’s return. Those the master finds alert will be blessed. He will make
them sit at the table and serve them himself.
However, he will come at any time. Jesus goes further,
...if the owner of the house had known
at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken
into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected
hour.
Once, a newly assigned devil was explaining his strategy to
a veteran. “My plan,” he said proudly, “is to convince the man that there is no
God.”
“No,” said the senior devil, “that
will not work. All the man has to do is take a look beyond the earth and he
will know that God exists.”
“Well, then,” said the junior
devil, “I will convince him that there is no devil.”
“That is more promising,” Replied
the veteran tempter, “but, still, if he takes a close look around his own
neighbourhood, he will realise that the devil exists.”
“Here’s the best plan. Don’t try to
convince him that there is no God or that there is no devil. Just tell him there
is no hurry.[1]
Father Sagayanathan concludes this story with these words, “Evidently
that is the current strategy to bring people down to hell”.
Dear friends, we have reflected on various topics. Many of
us have made resolutions. The number of resolutions that see the light of day
is another thing. Through almsgiving we store up treasures for ourselves. Let
us stop procrastinating because it is very deadly. Please, read the letter of
Saint James chapter 5: verses 1 – 6. We conclude with this quotation,
Do not withhold good from those to
whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your
neighbour, ‘Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it’ – when you have it
with you (Prov 3:27-28).
Bible Reading: Matt 6:1-4; Acts 10:1-4; Rom 13:8-10; 1Jn
4:7-21.
Thought for today: Why procrastinate?
Let us
pray with the Psalmist:
“4Lord,
remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered –
how fleeting my life is.
“5You
have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to
you;
at best, each of us is but a breath”
“6We
are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in
nothing.
We heap up
wealth,
not knowing who will spend it” (Ps
39:4-6) – Amen.
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free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
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[1]
Sagayanathan, A. (2009). Launching
pad: Stories for Sunday homilies – A, B & C. Bangalore: Asian
Trading Corporation, pp. 320-321.
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