Daily Readings - Sun Aug 11 2019

⁶For that night was known beforehand by our fathers, so that, knowing the truth of the oaths in which they had trusted, they might be more peaceful in their souls⁷Yet your people received not only the salvation of the just, but also the destruction of the unjust⁸For just as you wounded our adversaries, so also did you greatly esteem calling us forth⁹For the just children of goodness were secretly offering sacrifice, and in agreement they administered the law of justice, so that both good and bad would be able to receive justice, and so that you might now approve of their chanting to the father

Hebrews

Chapter 11

¹Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent²For this reason, the ancients were given testimony⁸By faith, the one called Abraham obeyed, going out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going⁹By faith, he stayed in the Land of the Promise as if in a foreign land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise¹⁰For he was awaiting a city having firm foundations, whose designer and builder is God¹¹By faith also, Sarah herself, being barren, received the ability to conceive offspring, even though she was past that age in life. For she believed him to be faithful, who had promised¹²Because of this, there were also born, from one who himself was as if dead, a mulititude like the stars of heaven, who are, like the sand of the seashore, innumerable

Luke

Chapter 12

³⁵Let your waists be girded, and let lamps be burning in your hands³⁶And let you yourselves be like men awaiting their lord, when he will return from the wedding; so that, when he arrives and knocks, they may open to him promptly³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he returns, will find being vigilant. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, while he, continuing on, will minister to them³⁸And if he will return in the second watch, or if in the third watch, and if he will find them to be so: then blessed are those servants³⁹But know this: that if the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly stand watch, and he would not permit his house to be broken into⁴⁰You also must be prepared. For the Son of man will return at an hour that you will not realize.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, faith, and readiness. In the first reading from Wisdom, we hear of a night known to our fathers, a time of trust in God's justice and plan. The just children, through their sacrifices and adherence to justice, demonstrate their faith in God's design. This passage reminds us that God's justice will prevail, and both the righteous and the unrighteous will receive their due. It calls us to trust in God's plan, even when the future seems uncertain. The second reading from Hebrews delves into the essence of faith, defining it as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of the unseen. Through the examples of Abraham and Sarah, we see unwavering trust in God's promises, even in the face of impossibility. Their story teaches us that true faith is about trusting God's plan, even when we cannot see the outcome. This faith is not passive but active, leading us to live in accordance with God's will. The Gospel from Luke brings these themes together, urging us to be prepared and vigilant. Jesus uses the parable of the servants waiting for their lord to emphasize the importance of readiness. He reminds us that the Son of Man will return unexpectedly, and we must be prepared to meet Him. This passage is a call to live each day with our hearts and minds focused on God, ensuring that our actions and decisions reflect our commitment to Him. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's justice and providence. Just as the just children and the patriarchs trusted in God's plan, we too must place our faith in Him. We are called to live with vigilance, always mindful of our ultimate goal of union with God. This means living each day with purpose, prayer, and service, ensuring that our actions reflect our faith. As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace the call to trust and readiness. May our faith be strengthened, and may we live each day with the conviction that God's plan is at work in our lives. Let us remain vigilant, prepared to meet the Lord whenever He comes, and may our lives be a testament to our trust in His divine providence.