19th Sunday of the Year (C)

For Your "Sunday Reflection": Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

19th Sunday of the Year (C), August 11, 2013

Liturgical readings
Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalm 33
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Luke 12:32-48

The Lord said, "Who in your opinion is that faithful, farsighted steward..?"


Jesus said to his disciples:


Do not live in fear, little flock.


It has pleased your Father
to give you the kingdom.


Sell what you have
and give alms.


Get purses for yourself
that do not wear out,
a never-failing treasure
with the Lord
which no thief comes near
nor any moth destroys.


Wherever your treasure lies,
there your heart will be.


Let your belts be fastened
around your waists
and your lamps be burning ready.


Be like a man awaiting
their master's return from a wedding,
so that when he arrives and knocks,
you will open for him without delay.


It will go well with those servants
whom the master finds wide-awake on his return.


I tell you,
he will put on an apron,
seat them at table,
and proceed to wait on them.


Should he happen to come at midnight
or before sunrise and find them prepared,
it will go well with them.


You know as well as I
that if the head of the house knew
when the thief was coming
he would not let him break into his house.


Be on guard, therefore.


The Son of Man will come
when you least expect him."


Peter said,


"Do you intend this parable for us, Lord,
or do you mean it for the whole world?"


The Lord said,


"Who in your opinion is that faithful, farsighted steward
whom the master will set over his servants
to dispense their ration of grain in season?


That servant is fortunate
whom his master finds busy when he returns


Assuredly,
his master will put him in charge
of all his property.


But if the servant says to himself,


'My master is taking his time about coming,'


and begins to abuse the housemen and servant girls,
to eat and drink and get drunk,


that servant's master will come back on a day
when he does not expect him,
at a time he does not know.


The slave who knew his master's wishes
but did not prepare to fulfill them
will get a severe beating,
whereas the one who did not know them
and who nonetheless deserved to be flogged
will get off with fewer stripes.


When much has been given a man,
much will be required of him.


More will be asked of a man
to whom more has been entrusted."

Scripture verses:
"Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes." (Wisdom 18)
"Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield." (Psalm 33)
"Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see." (Hebrews 11)
"The eyes of the Lord are upon those who hope for his kindness." (Psalm 33)