August 7, 2016

Dear Parish family,

We are celebrating the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time. There are two main messages which brought my attention as I meditated with the readings for this Sunday; be faithful to God and be prepared for his coming. In the Book of Wisdom we read that before a plague came upon the Egyptian families as they lost their firstborn, God allowed the Jewish families to be prepared as they celebrated the Passover and made an oath of fidelity to God. The Jewish families in Egypt were saved from the terrible famine which came upon the people in the Egyptian territory. They were saved because they were kept in vigil and made the oath of fidelity to God.

We learned through the second reading to the Hebrews that Abraham’s profound faith in God gave him the ability to trust in Him. Abraham trusted God and set off in a journey to the promise land. Even though he did not live in the promise land for a day, he knew that the generation after him will live in that blessed land. Abraham was faithful to God because he knew his journey was doing God’s plan and his fidelity to God will turn into blessings for all.

In today’s Gospel, (Luke 12: 32-48) Jesus makes an urgent call for us to be always prepared. To be prepared for the day when God will come and bring to fulfilment his kingdom or to be prepared for the day He will call us to eternal life. He invites us to be like servants who await their masters’ return from a wedding. If we are prepared, we will be recipients of God’s great gift to us which is eternal life. Upon Peter’s question, Jesus gives us the example of a faithful and prudent steward who will be rewarded by his master for his honest work. Being obedient and faithful to God is the way. Being obedient and trusting in Him is the best way to be watchful and to be prepared. By praying we speak to God and by reading sacred scriptures God speaks to us.

God bless you all.
​Father Lopez