Wisdom 18.6-9 | Hebrews 11.1-2,8-19 | Luke 12.32-48

Continuing the month of vocations, we begin the nineteenth week of Ordinary Time with Mother Church, meditating on the vocation to Matrimony and praying for couples and families.

Jesus confirmed to His disciples the Jewish teaching on the sanctity and indissolubility of conjugal love, saying: "What God has joined together, let no man separate" (cf. Mark 10:9; Matthew 19:6; Genesis 2:24).

The Church confirms the elevated dignity of the family, declaring it the domestic Church and the sanctuary of life. Recalling the fourth commandment, the Church reaffirms the authority of parents over their children and the duty of children to honor their parents, especially in sickness and old age. Speaking of the sixth commandment, the Church teaches that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and is called to chastity. And delving deeper into the ninth commandment, the Church defends conjugal fidelity.

As a model and intercession for families, the Church presents Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—the Holy Family. It is necessary to courageously resist the counter-values of society that attack and seek to disfigure the family, supporting free unions, abortion, and divorce. Defending the family is defending humanity.

Today, the evangelist Luke tells us about the arrival of the Son of Man at an unexpected hour.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to have treasure in Heaven by selling their possessions and giving alms, in preparation for the Lord's return. The watchful disciples would be served at table by the Son of Man Himself.

Following Jesus' example, preparing for life in God, Christians must use material goods without attachment. The idea of the "servant sitting at the table and served by his master" points to the Kingdom of God, which subverts the logic of this world and, at the same time, is an image of the Eucharist, where Christ feeds Christians around the table of consecrated Bread.

Jesus clearly explained that being vigilant and preparing for His arrival meant being a faithful and prudent steward of this world's goods, treating people well.

We know the will of the Lord Jesus. Much has been given to us and much has been entrusted, so much will be asked of us and demanded of us. Let us act in a manner consistent with Christ's will.

Today, the author of the Book of Wisdom speaks to us of the night of the Hebrews' liberation from slavery in Egypt.

God foretold this event to their ancestors to encourage them, revealing that it would be salvation for the righteous and perdition for their enemies. While awaiting this night, the pious Hebrew people offered sacrifices and sang hymns. 

Jesus foretold eternal salvation to the early Christians to encourage them in the face of religious and political persecution, so that they might grow stronger in holiness. Spirituality and Liturgy were nourishment for endurance and perseverance on the path from the world to Heaven.

Let us proclaim eternal salvation in Christ to all with joy and hope, to motivate conversion and perseverance in faith and charity.

Today, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews speaks to us of faith as the anticipated possession of what is still hoped for, presenting Abraham and his wife Sarah as examples, in the context of the divine promises of posterity and land.

Abraham set out from Ur of the Chaldeans, not knowing where he was going, trusting in God. Sarah, although barren and already advanced in age, became able to have children, trusting in God.

The descendants of Abraham and Sarah died in faith. They did not receive the fulfillment of the promise, but they were able to see and greet it from afar and declared themselves strangers and immigrants in this land. 

Christians have received divine promises of belonging to a redeemed people and eternal life in Heaven. Christians recognize themselves as pilgrims in this world, heading toward their final homeland. Christians face death with courage, nourishing their faith with the Bread of the Word and the Bread of the Eucharist.

Through evangelization, let us awaken faith in people, so that they may possess in advance the redemption and Heaven that Christians confidently await.

Local: Praia Grande - SP, Brasil

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