First Reading - Wisdom 18:6-9
Second Reading - Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19
Gospel - Luke 12:32-48
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.” With these gentle and powerful words, Jesus opens today’s Gospel and sets the tone for all three readings: a call to live not in fear or anxiety, but in confident, trusting faith—active, ready, and generous.
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reflects on the night of the Passover. The people of Israel were not delivered by force or merit, but because they trusted in the promises of God. Their deliverance was an act of grace, and their preparation—gathering in families, sacrificing the lamb, marking their doors with its blood—was a quiet act of obedience rooted in faith. God kept His word, and His people moved forward in hope, not because they saw everything clearly, but because they believed.
The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews praises this kind of faith. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Abraham is lifted up as a model: he left everything behind, obeyed without knowing the destination, and waited patiently for a promise that seemed impossible. He trusted in a God who brings life out of death and fulfills His word, even beyond human understanding.
This theme of watchful, ready faith continues in the Gospel. Jesus tells His disciples to live like servants waiting for their master to return—not in fear, but in eager anticipation. The master, surprisingly, is the one who serves them when he finds them vigilant. Then Jesus adds a deeper layer: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” Faith is not passive waiting. It is a readiness that shows itself in action: in stewardship, in justice, in love, in generosity.
So what does all this mean for us?
First, it means we are called to live with open hands, not clenched fists. The things of this world—possessions, status, control—are temporary. Jesus tells us to sell what we have, to give alms, and to store up treasure in heaven. This isn’t a call to recklessness, but to freedom. When we loosen our grip on what doesn’t last, we become free to hold on to what truly matters: faith, love, mercy, and hope.
Second, it means living with spiritual alertness. Like the Israelites on the eve of the Passover, like Abraham setting out into the unknown, we are pilgrims. We don’t always see where God is leading us, but we are called to be ready—to respond to His voice, to serve one another, and to remain faithful in the ordinary days when nothing seems extraordinary.
And third, it means recognizing the immense gift we’ve been given: the Kingdom. This is not just a future promise, but a present reality breaking into our lives through the grace of Christ. To be given the Kingdom is to be entrusted with the Gospel, with God’s mercy, with a mission. It is a trust that demands a response—not fear, but faithful action.
Let us then walk in the footsteps of Abraham, with faith that trusts even in darkness. Let us be like the servants in the Gospel—watchful, joyful, and generous. And above all, let us remember that our Father is pleased to give us the Kingdom. We have nothing to fear and everything to live for.
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