Reflection for Sunday 10th August, 2025
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Always Prepared for the Lord (Luke 12:32-48)
“There is no need for you to be afraid, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.”
Here is a short story about a wise man in India. A young man asks the wise man what does it mean to be enlightened. The wise man answered:
“I know that I am going to die.”
“But doesn’t everybody know that?”
“Yes, but they do not live with that knowledge.”
In today’s Gospel, we are told to store up our treasures in the right place (heaven) and to be prepared for the return of Jesus. Have your lamps lit (the light of faith) while waiting for the return of the Risen Lord.
In John 14:2-3 we read: “I am going now to prepare a place for you … and I shall return to take you to myself so that you may be with me where I am.”
“Have your lamps lit (the light of faith) while waiting for the return of the Risen Lord.”Beware of temptation
As long as we live in this world, we will be subject to temptation by Satan, the father of lies. I think it was St. Alphonsus who asked when will one be free from temptation. When you are an hour dead, was his reply! The burglar will constantly attempt to break into our lives. The house represents the inner soul where we want to be at home with God. Satan does not want us to be at home with God so he will probe for any way to break into the house. Like an army of olden days probing for a weakness in a city wall, Satan will probe for any chink of character. He spotted the greed of Judas and wormed his way into his mind. Greed is one of what we call the 7 deadly sins: pride, covetousness (greed), lust, envy, anger, gluttony, and sloth (laziness).
Nowadays a very common addiction is pornography which is so easily accessible. As with any addiction, one loses freedom by becoming enslaved.
Another chink in the wall is addiction to gossip which harms somebody’s good name. Other areas that Satan will probe are the tendency to be judgemental, overly critical, or being self-centred and mean. “See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit.” Treasure your relationship with God. Never say or do anything you know to be wrong in the eyes of God.
Church leaders
Speaking on behalf of all the apostles, Peter asked if the parable of the burglar applied to them only, or to everyone. It applies to everybody but especially to the apostles and to their successors today. Satan knows the truth of the Latin saying, corruptio optimi pessima, corruption of the best is worst of all. One of Shakespeare’s sonnets ends with the line, “Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.” As Jesus said, “When a man has had a great deal given to him on trust, even more will be expected of him.” There was a time when I thought that it was very selfish to have special prayer for the pope and bishops in the Eucharistic Prayer. But I have changed my mind because they are the prime targets of Satan’s assault.
Prayer
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the Evil One.
