Homily for Thirty-third Sunday Year A Accountabiltiy
Homily for
Thirty-third Sunday of Year A
Reading 1: I
am sure some husbands may say: “I wish my wife was like that.” At the same
time, I am sure some wives may say: “I wish my husband would entrust his heart to
me at all times.”
What is the
key phrase that makes the wife worthy? “She fears the Lord.” What does that
mean exactly? There is a natural emotion of fear, for instance when we perceive
something evil or dangerous, like a poisonous snake. Then there is fear of God,
one of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This is not fear in the human sense of emotion, but an awe and reverence
of the very being of God. Who am I to gaze on the loveliness of God, to be
blessed by God, to be in the very presence of God! In fact the greatest gift we have been given
is this relationship with God.
The virtuous
woman of worth has this reverential respect and awe of the person of God. Her
life flows from a right relationship with God and therefore a right relationship
with others. She knows who she is as a daughter of God. She knows her purpose in life is to be with
God forever and to lead her children and husband to the Lord. She has eternity in sight in all she does and
knows she will be held accountable by God both for her relationship with him
and her relationship with others.
Gospel: The
Gospel ties in with the first reading in the area of accountability. What will
be the basis for this accountability? Whether we were faithful in small
matters. If so, we shall share in the Master’s joy.
God gives us
many gifts and opportunities throughout our lives. What we do with them will be
the measure of the accountability. The
first two servants, like the valiant women, realize what was given them and
used them in the right way for the good of others and out of due respect for
the Master. They had that reverential
fear of God. The third servant did not. He had a fear of his master’s expectation,
not the reverential fear of the valiant women.
The servant let this fear paralyze him rather than see the generosity
and trust of the master in him. His
relationship with God was not a value.
The day of
accountability will surely come for each of us for the graces and opportunities
we have received. We can’t hide behind the excuse of fear of failure or fear of
lack of self-worth. The question we have
to ask ourselves is have we been a faithful or fearful servant, a productive
and creative or a foolish and inconsiderate servant?
Reading 2: Paul reminds us of the Day of the Lord, the
Day of judgement and accountability. This Day of the Lord can be seen from two
different aspects. First, it can refer to the second coming of Jesus in glory
to judge the living and the dead at the end of the world. That day is known only by God and can’t be
predicted. Secondly, the Day of the Lord may be understood as my own
death. Again, no one but God knows the
day or hour.
What is Paul’s
point? Be prepared! Be the children of
the light, living in relationship with God in reverential awe, knowing that the
Day of the Lord is a given, only the timing is unknown. Be not like the
children of darkness, living in unrepentant sin, unmindful of the Day of the
Lord and unprepared for its eternal consequences. The children of the light cherish relationship
with God as a precious gift and treasure. The children of darkness have chosen
to walk away from relationship with God, except on their terms.
About the Author
0 comments