FR. GERALD MUSA HOMILY FOR THE 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
THEME: A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS
BY: Fr. Gerald Musa
HOMILY FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 7 2022
The French Writer Gustave Flaubert gives a story of a simple and faithful housemaid (servant) called Madame Aubain. Madame Aubain’s husband had left to marry another woman and she was left without wealth, education or children. Madame Aubain found a job in the house of a difficult lady Mistress called Felicite. She showed her loyal faithful service as she worked daily from morning till evening for many years. She served her mistress committedly as she cooked, washed the dishes, took care of poultry and did the laundry. She showed the depth of her love by caring for the two children of her mistress as if they were her own precious children. What she got as salary was nothing compared to the amount of time and energy she expended in her work. She showed her faithfulness to God by the simplicity of her life and by attending daily Masses. In her old age she died unnoticed, but divine signs of peace surrounded her even in her deathbed.
Jesus invites us to be servants who are faithful even in little things (Luke 16:10). The following 3 Scripture readings are pointing towards the importance of faithfulness:
The Book of Wisdom mentions the faithfulness of the people of Israel as they waited in courage and faith for the salvation of the just (Wisdom 18:3).
Furthermore, the letter to the Hebrews praises the faithfulness of Abraham at the time when he “sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with a permanent foundation, whose architect and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10). Abraham faithfully kept an eye on the promise that God made to him.
The need to be faithful is captured in the words of Jesus, where he says: “Gird your loins and light your lambs and be like servants who await their master’s return” (Luke 12:35).
Jesus strongly emphasised the importance of faithfulness. He did this by giving the parable of a faithful servant (waiter). Jesus, describes a faithful servant as a ‘good waiter.’ A waiter is someone who serves in a restaurant, someone who serves others at table. A good waiter is cheerful in his or her work, making others happy and bringing joy into the lives of others. So, the waiter’s duty is to be available for others and to make them comfortable.
We love the word “faithful” and so we talk about “faithful friend” faithful parishioner, faithful worker, faithful husband, faithful wife, faithful Christian, faithful Catholic, faithful in prayer, faithful in keeping promise. Jesus speaks to us about the need to be “faithful in waiting” and in illustrating his point he speaks about the faithful servant. We are therefore invited to be faithful to the end.
A preacher rightly says, “Faithfulness is not doing something right once but doing something right over and over and over and over.” How can we faithfully walk in God’s presence in such a way that whenever Jesus comes knocking, he would meet us ever ready?
19th Sunday of the Year
Wisdom 18:3,6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48