BUILD UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

 

Homily for the 19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Readings: Wisdom 18:6-9, Hebrews 11:1-2.8-19, Luke 12:32-48

 

In the gospel reading of this nineteenth Sunday, Jesus offers us both words of assurance/encouragement and instruction. The assurance he offers us is that we should not be afraid because it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32). Jesus gives this assurance to his disciples because he is aware of their struggle with fear, anxiety and worry about the things of this world. So, he tells them (us) not to be afraid but to have faith. Faith is the antidote to fear. Undue worry is a great sin against God. If we worry, it will be difficult for us to trust in God, and when we trust in God, it will be difficult for us to worry.

Aware that the cares of this world will make us lose sight of the kingdom that our Father has promised us, Jesus in today’s gospel reading gives us the radical instruction to sell what we have and give alms; to get ourselves purses that do not wear out, and make safe investments with God, where no thief comes and no moth destroys (Luke 12:33). This instruction follows from the teachings of Jesus about accumulation of and attachment to material possessions which he taught us last Sunday using the parable of the Rich Fool. When it comes to accumulation of possessions, two tendencies are always involved - the tendency of getting by all means and that of keeping by all means.

Jesus commands us not to become greedy or to cling to our riches and other material possessions as if they are an end in and of themselves, but to use them in such a way that through their use,  we can acquire spiritual goods and treasures as provisions for our journey towards the kingdom promised us by our Father. This is what Jesus warns about when he tells us to sell our possessions and give alms; to provide ourselves 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 (Luke 12:33). It is by giving and sharing of our material possessions that we build treasures in heaven. Whatever we give to others is not lost but transformed into a treasure of eternity, drawing us forward into the kingdom.

Jesus also instructs us to let our loins be girded (to be dressed for action) and our lamps burning, 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 (Luke 12:35-36). Here, we are reminded of the fact that we are like stewards, who have been entrusted with some responsibilities by the master. The master will come unannounced and will demand from us an account of our stewardship. Since the master will come at a time we do not know, what it means therefore is that we should be ready and wide-awake at all times.

Lastly, let us be like the faithful servants whom the Lord found at their duty posts when he arrived. Let us try to imitate the servants who knew the wish of the Father and did it. The wish of the Father is that we come into his kingdom he has promised us. May the Lord grant us the grace to be ready, vigilant and committed to the tasks he has given us and may we be counted among the faithful followers of Jesus and be considered rich in the sight of God.