LIVING BY FAITH, WATCHING WITH HOPE

Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scripture Readings: Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48

A young boy once asked his father, “Why do we always lock the doors at night?” The father replied, “Because we never know when danger may come.” The boy then asked, “So why do we pray before bed?” The father smiled and said, “Because we also never know when the Lord may come.”

Dear friend, last Sunday, the readings taught us about the vanities of life and warned us against the foolishness of storing up earthly treasures without being “rich in what matters to God.” This Sunday, the readings continue this theme, shifting from attachment to possessions to the attitude of readiness. If last Sunday asked, “What are you living for?”, this Sunday asks, “What are you waiting for?”

In the Gospel reading, Jesus cautions, “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit… You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” These are words not just about death or the Second Coming but about living every moment in watchful faith. Faith, as the Second Reading from Hebrews tells us, is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Abraham is praised not for having a map of his future, but for trusting God step-by-step. He moved, waited, and obeyed even when he did not understand. That is faith: obedience without full visibility. 

The Gospel reading uses the imagery of servants waiting for the master’s return from a wedding banquet. Here we find a twist: the master returns and does something shocking. He puts on an apron and serves the faithful servants (Luke 12:37). This is our God! He rewards our faithfulness with His own service and love. But notice also the warning: “To whom much is given, much is required.” If we know what is right but fail to do it, our negligence becomes guilt.

The first reading recalls the night of the Passover - the moment of liberation for the Israelites. What is striking here is that they were saved not just by the event, but by their trust in God’s promise. They acted in obedience and waited in hopeful expectation. Hope makes us vigilant. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is confident waiting rooted in God’s faithfulness. For us today, living in hope means not giving up in the face of hardship, not growing slack in our duties, and not living as if this world is all there is.

One thing we must take away from today’s reading is that faith is not passive. The story of Abraham teaches us that waiting on God means moving when He says move, even when the destination is unclear. The lesson is that readiness is responsibility. Jesus calls us not just to wait, but to be vigilant, faithful, and active. Like a servant who does not know when the master will return, we must live each day as if it is the day. The last is that hope is our anchor. Psalm 33 tells us: “Our soul waits for the Lord… in him our hearts rejoice.” Christian hope is not naïve optimism; it is grounded in the promise of a God who never fails.

Dear friends, each day is a gift, but also a test. The question is not just: What are you waiting for? but how are you waiting? If Jesus returned today, what would He find you doing? Let us not live like the man who prepared for everything but eternity. Let us be people of faith, hope, and readiness.