Be Faithful, the Lord is Coming: Reflections on the Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalm 33
Hebrews 11:1-2. 8-19
Luke 12:32-48

What is faith? Faith is a gift and, like all gifts must be accepted to have any effect (Catechism 153). Intimately connected to faith are hope and trust. All three of these are subjects of today’s readings. The letter to the Hebrews provides us with an outright answer to our question: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” But, as can be seen from the readings, there is more to it than that.

Faith involves trust, especially where promises are made. Both Abraham (Abram) and the Israelites trusted in the Lord and that He had a plan for salvation. Abram (later Abraham) was told by the Lord to pick up and go to a land God would show him and there make of him a great nation. In faith and trust, Abram acted. (Genesis 12:1-2)

Now, in the first reading we are told that the night of the Passover, which was the beginning of the Exodus and during which Israel’s foes (the Egyptian army) were destroyed, was known by their forefathers. In Genesis (15:13-14) Abram was told by the Lord that his “descendants will reside as aliens in a land not their own, where they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But I [the Lord] will bring judgment on the nation they must serve, and after this they will go out with great wealth.”

In Exodus we see this being carried out. The Jews lived in Egypt for about 430 years (Exodus 12:40-42), initially as welcome guests (see the story of Joseph, Jacob’s son, Genesis chapters 37-42) but then they were enslaved. When Pharaoh finally released them after the death of the firstborn in Egypt, they took with them much of the wealth of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:35). The Egyptian army followed the Israelites as they crossed the Red Sea but were totally destroyed when Moses, with the guidance of the Lord, stretched his “hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their horsemen ...; not even one escaped.” (Exodus 15:26, 28)

The reading from Wisdom continues relating this story: “Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes. For when you punished our adversaries, in this you glorified us whom you had summoned.” The people of God waited with trust and faith for the promised salvation and were rescued from Egyptian captivity and sent on their way to the promised land.

The responsorial psalm emphasizes hope and trust in the Lord as well. “See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death ...” Fear of the Lord, better understood as awe in His majesty and power, is related to the trust the people have that God would deliver them from death (i.e., from their sins also), which is what He did during the Exodus. Fear of the Lord can also be described as filial piety, such as the respect (and trust) one has for one’s parents. “... in His holy name we trust” (Psalm 33:21). Therefore, they are a people blessed because the Lord has chosen them for Himself. And as we are the “new” Israel, we are chosen for the Lord and should place our trust, hope and faith in Him also.

The reading from the letter to the Hebrews begins with a definition of faith but then skips to the telling of how our father in faith, Abraham, lived and acted by faith. However, in the missing segment, there is also another key lesson. While recounting some other events based on faith in the history of the Old Testament (Abel’s offering, Noah’s building the ark, etc.) it also notes the importance of pleasing God and that “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, emphasis added)

Thus, the letter says, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested.” The selected portion then recounts the faith of Abraham (also mentioned above) and how he acted on his faith in the Lord. Part of faith is the hope and search for something better. In this light the letter notes that we are aliens and strangers on earth, seeking a homeland. For this reason the Church often refers to itself as a pilgrim people as this life is not our ultimate destination. Jesus called us out of the world. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

In the Salve Regina prayer (Hail Holy Queen) we acknowledge our status as exiles. Often when someone dies they are referred to as having been called home (to our Heavenly Father) to a “better homeland,” as the letter states. Abraham lived his faith, even so far as offering up his only son, when asked. As we are his children in faith, our lives should also exemplify our faith.

The gospel reading contains many key lessons, in addition to the need for faith. To provide context, just a few lines earlier, Jesus admonishes His disciples, “O men of little faith.” He then reiterates the need to trust in God, to “seek His kingdom” (Luke 12:31).

Jesus reminds them of the need for vigilance, preparedness, and storing up the proper treasures for your future in heaven. In a reference to Jesus’ return He tells us to be ready for the Master’s return, for He will come “at an hour you do not expect.” Like Matthew (6:19-21) Luke also tells us the importance of conversion in the heart towards heavenly things, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Jesus extends the discussion of faith when He speaks of the “faithful and prudent servant.” The faithful and prudent servant follows the desires of his master, even when he is absent. Similarly, even if we don’t see God in everything on a daily basis, we are called to obey His will. The servant who is trustworthy will, in turn, be trusted and “the master will put the servant in charge of all his property,” or, in our case, the Church.

Jesus recognizes the imperfection of the servants stating that the servant who knew his master’s will but did not act accordingly will suffer greater punishment than the one committing a similar offense but was ignorant of his master’s desires. Note that Jesus did not say he wouldn’t be punished, but only that it would be less severe. In this line, see the Catechism discussion on gravity and imputability of sin, articles 1854-1864, and especially 1860.

Similarly, those entrusted with more authority and responsibility will be subject to more rigorous judgment: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” In a similar way, in the letter of James, we are cautioned, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly ...” (James 3:1) In my Navy days, people often noted, sometimes contemptuously, that “Rank has its privileges.” What they overlooked was the fact that “Rank has its responsibilities.” Too often even those with rank overlook their responsibilities and need to be held accountable. We have all, in various measures, been entrusted with the responsibility to live our faith and to pass it on to others. By this we will each be judged, individually. As Screwtape noted in C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Proposes a Toast, “Only individuals can be saved or damned,” because in the end we will all be held accountable for both our actions and inactions.