NINETEENTH SUNDAY

1.       The decision to use the shorter version of today’s Gospel is not because the weather is too hot, nor with the intention of make the Mass shorter. The Gospel contains three teachings which were given by Jesus at different times. Trying to comment on all three would turn this homily into a Scripture Class. Furthermore

• one has to deal with the advice of Jesus “be not afraid”
• the second deals with the advice of Jesus “be always prepared”
• the third is a parable with three different possible endings.
• It might be worthwhile as a family reading the parable together and figuring out which suits the conclusion of the parable the best.

2.       I would like to talk on two topics: faith and faithfulness which are like two sides of the same coin.

The reading from the Hebrews often called the “roll call of heroes” tells us that faith is assurance of things hoped for and a conviction of things not seen. We often make the mistake of saying like Thomas, “I will not believe until I see.” However, once a person has seen something, he knows, and he no longer needs faith. You do not have to have faith for things we are certain of. For example you do not need faith

• if you put a TV converter into the hands of a normal man, he will probably flip from one channel to another.
• if you take a regular woman to a Mall, she will shop till she drops - or the credit card gets worn out.
• if you give your teenage son, you car to drive and he gas tank is half full, you can expect it to be empty.

You do not need faith for these things. Faith is the belief that things will happen in the future because of the person who has made you the promise and because you believe that person is powerful enough to make things happen. I trust in God to take care of me, because God loves me and God has the power to care for me. I believe that if I land in the hospital for some sickness, my mother will be one of the first to visit me, because my mother loves me, and she is very concerned about my health.

3.         And so the eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives us a roll call of heroes. They are heroes not because of their bravery, or heroism, but because they are models of us to imitate. Although the section we read today presents us with Abraham and Sarah, the chapter proposes to us

• Noah with his ark of science fiction proportions and its impossible cargo.
• Abraham and Sarah well past child bearing age but yet promised children more than the sands on the seashore.
• Jacob who knew that his son Joseph was dead, but now sees his grandsons from the same dead Joseph.
• Moses who became second in command in Egypt the very country that decreed that he should be abandoned in the river to die.

These make us believe that we too can

• dream the impossible dream
• fight the unbeatable foe
• go where the brave dare not go
• because we have been made through baptism children of God, with whom all things are possible.

4.         Part Two: Faithfulness:

Because we have all this power, this security, this freedom of spirit due to God’s promises, we are challenged to faithfulness. We are called - and we would say it is human decency that we repay all these gifts with a life that is compatible with the children of God.  Jesus invites us, never forces us to

• act justly - treating others: men and women with respect that is due to them.
• to live soberly: -not to indulge in over eating & over drinking. Not to get drunk
• to await with joy and expectation for the coming of the Lord.

The Lord and Master might arrive at any time. However, if we have been living up to our baptismal promises, we will not be afraid, quite the contrary we will await with great eagerness. Those of you who have dogs can relate to this - the dog welcomes you home with barks of joy and furiously wagging its tail. It is overjoyed to see its master. The difference between the animal and us, is that we have the ability to make choices - and make wrong ones. And consequently we are not so eager and we do not await the arrival of the Master at any time. We would like to get some notice.

We would like to prepare ourselves and the house before the Master’s arrival. But since we do not know the day nor the hour, we are constantly anxious and afraid. And the Master: Jesus tells us Be not afraid.

5.         The heart of the matter is that we cannot loose eternal life unless we want to. It is constantly given as a gift for the taking. If we are Christ centred and Christ focussed, we would have no trouble and our welcome would like the eagerness of a young dog.

There is a cartoon showing a man with a bill board, an ad over his front and back. As you approach him the front classified board says: Repent the end is near.” And at the back it says, if it is not : eat at Joe’s diner. When asked why he had contradictory ads, he said, he was simply hedging his bets. Until the ends comes, I get a free meal at Joe’s Diner.

However, in God’s promise there no need of hidden agenda or plans. There are no hoops to hurdle and racing records to break.