Nineteen Sunday C in Ordinary Time Luke 12,32-48

Jesus tells us clearly and forcefully: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34).

Jesus encourages guides, directs, and cares for his “little flock,” the Church. This is why Jesus came into the world as the God-man, why he suffered and died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, and sent out disciples, “… for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom” (Lk. 12:32). Jesus is concerned that the Church takes the correct attitude towards the world. The actual thing until the end of the world is for the Church to have an accurate and proper self-concept. At every age, the Church must have the right way of life, mold itself, and have a duty to develop itself. In other words, the Church must guard her doctrine entrusted to her by God; that is, the Church must be vigilant and always ready to do God’s will. Jesus gave the Church the words of encouragement, “Keep your loins girded and your lamps burning” (Lk 12:35). We know that the Lord Jesus always does the will of the heavenly Father. He rightly requires His own to keep watch: “If the householder knew at what hour the thief comet… Be ye also ready, for the Son of man cometh at an hour which ye know not” (Lk. 12:39-40). We are being taught the responsibility of knowing God’s will. Live in the presence of God.

The Church has several spiritual families, such as the Camaldolese or Carthusians, the Poor Clares, and various contemplative religious orders, who are a remembrance of life for the wholeremembrancein their strict renunciation. The same greeting with which the members of these communities greet each other says it all: “Memento mori.” – “Remember death.” They are a call or an address to us to live in God’s constant presence. Today’s Gospel is a call for us to know how to listen. To listen to our God who has prepared a kingdom where entrance cannot be bought, but where the door is secured by purses that will not be worn, where the thief does not enter, and where the moth does not destroy.
In today’s society, in the economic, cultural, political, and sporting spheres, the principle is more valid: to be vigilant, to be alert, and to be on the lookout if we want to prove something, achieve something, or gain something. It is, therefore, a challenge to us in spiritual matters that the Lord, that is, Jesus, should find us watchful at his coming. The words, blessed are they whom he shall find ready, speak of the reward, that Jesus will gird himself, sit down, and minister to them. This is the reward for the wise steward who faithfully performs his duties.
Our time is more and more spoken of as apocalyptic. We have signs that call us to watch. Man’s life is indeed waiting for our Lord. Waiting must not become idleness, doing anything, or dead stillness. Christ, our Judge, has the right to come at any time; during our lives through prayer, encounters with people, events, and signs. We must have a kindled heart. In natural life, we can discern the steps expected. In the spiritual life, shouldn’t this be true? How often are the words of the preacher, confessor, or exorbitant such actions for us? We know that this is not scaremongering.
The book Preach the Gospels describes the story of a man who was considered both rich and a great sinner. He decided he was going to change. He made plans to go to Rome and confess to the Pope himself. And so he did. He had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father, whom he then asked for Holy Confession. He was granted it. He received instruction, repented of his sins, and received absolution. As a parting gift, he was given a ring with the Latin inscription, “Memento mori” – “Remember death.” This man initially thought like this. It didn’t even cost me that much effort or wasted time, and I still received a lovely gift from the Pope himself. He became more and more aware of the words on the ring. Remember that you are going to die, that death awaits you, that you will leave everything you possess today, that before God, different values apply, that death is the gateway to another life… More and more began to live in the presence of God. The words from the ring led him to re-evaluate his relationship with things, events, and people. What had previously had first place and value began to recede, and in that place came matters he had not thought of before. His change in life was not only felt by him, but those around him felt it very soon. What was the biggest surprise for him? He began to feel calmer, happier, and more aware of the love of the people around him.

To live in the presence of God, we don’t have to receive absolution from the Pope, nor do we have to be given a ring. It is enough that we reread today’s Gospel or remember the words of the ring. Most importantly, we begin to live with God on our weekdays and holidays, our duties and our relaxation, and realize the beauty of living in union with God. God’s mercy is our strength. For Jesus has won the most significant victory for us. Our struggles have a pattern. We are not alone in our efforts. We realize that the day turns into eternity and our longing to see God into reality. And for this, it is worth giving up everything that means nothing before God. It pays to take up our cross and follow the Crucified One. Indeed, only He can give us the very thing we need. He cannot disappoint, lead astray, promise what He cannot fulfill… He is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Fortune smiled at Jana. She got to study in the USA. She got into a crisis from the environment, the different lifestyle, the lack of friends, or the problematic beginnings. Young people on the street approached her. She didn’t know anything about the mooners. First, for a weekend, then for a whole week, she was talked into staying among them. “It was beautiful,” she recalls. “They noticed me, they showed me attention, they helped me… It was only after a while that I began to realize that I was completely dependent on them. I began to lose the ability to act independently. I was fortunate that I still realized that they were emotionally blackmailing me. It was when the leader Sun Myung Moon determined who I should marry. I went through three weeks of hell. Today, I know that others were caught up in it for months or years. Today I know this movement leads to the disintegration of human identity, beliefs, behavior, and ways of thinking. They can bring a person with beautiful words about the perfect family to the brink of human happiness. Today, I know men’s psychological manipulation techniques are more effective than the brainwashing practiced in our prisons and educational establishments in the fifties. Covert hypnosis techniques can make a person into a lamb who lives for others. He is not ashamed to beg, sell, lie, cheat, and be noticed by the leaders to get into the movement’s higher spheres. That is how one learns to exploit others for one’s benefit. One loses the consciousness of morality, honor means nothing, and character is not to be spoken of. Until one does not realize it. One is even unhappy that others do not follow his way and reject such a style of life… So family ties are broken, marriages are destroyed, family members and friends condemn, and one does not realize that one is a modern enslaved person at the end of the second millennium. All this in the name of the teachings of the sick man and his ilk, which can often sanitize weak and naive people, people who are in misfortune, in crisis, who have had someone die and feel alone.”
We say they are false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, bloodthirsty hyenas, trained frauds, murderers of human happiness…

We need to live in the presence of God and help others not to be seduced and deceived by those above.