The believer's act (of faith) does not terminate in the propositions,
but in the realities (which they express). - St. Thomas Aquinas
Wisdom 18: 6 – 9
That night was made known beforehand to our fathers, so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths in which they trusted. The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies were expected by thy people. For by the same means by which thou didst punish our enemies thou didst call us to thyself and glorify us. For in secret the holy children of good men offered sacrifices, and with one accord agreed to the divine law, that the saints would share alike the same things, both blessings and dangers; and already they were singing the praises of the fathers.
Psalm: Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-22
Second Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 or 11:1-2, 8-12
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval.By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named." He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Gospel: Luke 12:32-48 or 12:35-40
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour." Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.
Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.
Reflection
By Mark Rodney Vertido
Have you tried to ask and check where your heart is dedicated to? Are you preoccupied by the work you do for yourself and your family? Or are you dedicating yourself to some people who are important to you? Do you revolve your life around the material possessions that you have? These are questions that we need to answer daily because it will tell us where we focus our lives on.
We all look forward and hope that at the end of our days we will also go to the House of our Father. But I know that the road going there is long and rocky steep. Life is a continuous journey, we cannot stop for long. We need to rest, but not to settle down where we have reached. Along the way, we need to always be aware where our heart is.
We cannot serve God and Mammon at the same time. A choice is given to all of us. Where is your heart? God invites us this Sunday to reflect once more and check ourselves. Of course, God wants us to acquire heavenly merits and treasures for these will not be taken away from us.
One of the unsung martyrs of our faith is Richie Fernando, a Filipino Jesuit missionary sent to Cambodia. I personally address him as Kuya Richie even if I did not come to know him personally yet because by learning his life through reading, it feels as if I am close to him. To cut the story short, there were times in his life that he had struggled on his vocation as a Jesuit. He experienced this when he was already in Cambodia and at that time Cambodia has not yet recovered from the past dictatorial rule. Danger was all around him like the land mines which took the life of the many children whom they were helping in a technical school for the handicapped that the Jesuits are managing. He endured the dangers and served the children and the people with all his heart for the sake of Jesus.
Four days before his sudden martyrdom, Kuya Ritchie has written these words on his dairy:
"I know where my heart is.
It is with Jesus Christ,
who gave his all for the poor, the sick, the orphan.
I feel as if I am beginning to understand more when I say:
‘I want to be like Christ, I will follow Jesus.
I am Jesus’ friend and companion.’
I am confident that God never forgets his people:
our disabled brothers and sisters.
And I am glad that God has been using me to make sure
that our brothers and sisters know this fact.
I am convinced that this is my vocation/ mission.
I am a Jesuit.
I know where my heart is."
On October 17, 1996, he died a martyr trying to become a human armor to save the children from a hand grenade thrown by an angry student. Although he died in martyrdom, he was able to reiterate that his heart and his whole being is for God. And I know that even though he is not yet being canonized, he is in heaven, where he had stored his treasure, celebrating with God and all the Saints.
Amidst the storms in life that we encounter each day, amidst our preoccupation on the things that we need to do, and amidst the situation that we have, may we always see that our hearts must be focused on God.
Prayer
Father, please help us to seek You first and Your Kingdom. Free us from the bondages of earthly possessions. In Jesus' name, Amen.
