Homilies | Father Nathan

Father Nathan | Homily

19th Sunday Ordinary Time (August 11, 2019)

Your Kingdom Come!!!

Fr. Nathan

Introduction:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him and he with me”

• Revelations 3:20

The central theme of today’s readings is the necessity for trusting Faith in God’s promises and vigilant preparedness in the followers of Christ.

Scripture Reading Summarized:

The First Reading – Wisdom 18:6-9

Cites the Faith-filled preparedness of the ancient Hebrew slaves in Egypt before their mass exodus to the Promised Land.

Their trusting Faith in their God’s promises gave them hope.  We are told how their Faith and Hope resulted in their liberation. With expectant Hope, the Hebrews obediently sacrificed the first Passover lamb and ate the first ritual meal, as prescribed by their God through Moses.  They awaited their imminent release and were prepared for it.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 (12b)

Invites us to express our own confidence in God and declare our trust in His providence.

Second Reading  – Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

Taken from the last chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, Paul defines Faith as

“the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen”

• • • Hebrews 11:1

He tries to bolster the Faith of the Jewish Christians (the Hebrews), by appealing to the example of their ancestors, starting with Abraham, and reviewing the things they had accomplished by Faith.

Today’s Gospel – Luke 12:32-48

Jesus teaches us to be ready for the kingdom. People of Jesus’s day expected it soon. The early Christians expected it soon. Some expected it sooner and some thought it is NOT imminent or it’s NOT going to happen at all. Hence Jesus warns them to be ready that we won’t be left out.

Life Messages:

We need to wait for the Lord.

“Waiting for Christ to return” means working for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

This means doing God’s will by rendering humble service to others. The primary reason Jesus came to earth was to inaugurate the Kingdom of God.

Often, we hear that the reason Jesus came to the earth was to die on the Cross. Jesus did come to die on the Cross, but that death on the Cross was for the purpose of establishing the Kingdom of God. If the Kingdom of God is in you, you should leave a little bit of heaven wherever you go.

Have a Blessed Week,

Fr. Nathan