"Maghanda gid kamo"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 12:39-48)

Miyerkules (Oktubre 23)

Dumdoma ninyo ini! Kon ang tag-iya sang balay nakahibalo kon ano nga oras magaabot ang makawat, magabantay gid sia agod indi makasulod sa iya balay ang makawat.

Gani, kamo man maghanda kay ang Anak sang Tawo magaabot sa oras nga wala ninyo sia ginapaabot.”

Si Pedro nagsiling, “Ginoo, kami lang bala ang ginatumod mo sini nga palaanggiran ukon ang 

tanan?”

Ang Ginoo nagsabat, “Karon sin-o bala ang masaligan kag maalam nga suloguon? Sia amo ang pagatugyanan sang agalon sa pagdumala sang iya panimalay kag sa paghatag sa iban nga suloguon sang ila pagkaon sa nagakaigo nga tion.

Bulahan ina nga suloguon kon makita sia sang iya agalon nga nagahimo sang gintugyan sa iya sa pag-abot niya.

Matuod gid, nagasiling ako sa inyo, ang agalon magatugyan sa sina nga suloguon sang tanan niya nga pagkabutang.

Pero kon ina nga suloguon magsiling sa iya kaugalingon, ‘Dugay pa mag-abot ang akon agalon,’ kag ginasakit niya ang iban nga mga suloguon nga lalaki kag babayi, kag dayon nagakaon, nagainom kag nagapahuboghubog sia.

Ti, magabalik ang agalon sa adlaw nga wala sia ginapaabot sang suloguon kag sa tion nga wala niya mahibaloi. Ang agalon magahatukhatok sa iya kag magasilot upod sa mga malalison.

“Ang suloguon nga nakahibalo sang luyag ipahimo sa iya sang iya agalon, pero daw wala lang sa buot niya ang paghimo sini, pagahanuton sing tudo-tudo.

Pero ang suloguon nga wala makahibalo sang ginapahimo sa iya sang iya agalon, kag nagahimo sing mga butang nga dapat sia hanuton, pagahanuton sia sing diutay lang. Ang tawo nga ginhatagan sing madamo, madamo man ang ginapaabot sa iya. Ang tawo nga ginhatagan sing madamo pa gid, madamo pa gid ang ginapaabot sa iya.”

Prayers:

“Lord Jesus, you have captured my heart and it is yours. Take it that I may have you alone as my treasure and joy. Make me strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and generous in love that I may seek to please you in all things and bring you glory.”

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

What lesson can a thief in the night teach us about the kingdom of God? Jesus loved to tell stories, many which ended with a dramatic and unexpected change of circumstances. Can you imagine a thief calling ahead to tell his victim when he would strike? The intruder usually strikes when he is least expected and under the cover of darkness and secrecy. Should we be surprised to see a thief making off with a great treasure or prized possession which has been left unguarded or unlocked? 

What does this say about the gift and great treasure which God has entrusted to you? When God offers us his kingdom he gives us a priceless treasure (see the parable of the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great price in Matthew 13:44-46). What is this treasure of immeasurable value? The Lord Jesus himself is our treasure (Job 22:22-23) and the kingdom he offers us is a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The Lord offers us a relationship with God the Father as his sons and daughters and the promise of eternal life as well. This treasure is of far greater value that any earthly treasure because nothing can diminish its insurpassable worth or destroy it. But it's possible to lose this great treasure if we do not guard it with our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We can lose heaven and eternal friendship with God if we allow Satan – the deceiver and father of lies – to rob us of our faith and make us deny God's word of truth! The Lord Jesus fortunately does not leave us on our own – he stands watch with us to guide, direct, and keep us from the snares of the evil one. Do you keep vigilant watch over the treasure which God has entrusted to you?

Jesus ends his teaching on watchfulness and vigilance with another parable about a master and his servants (similr to the parable in Matthew 24:.45-49). The storyline is similar. There is an element of surprise – the master suddenly returns home unexpectedly, probably from a long journey. He rewards the dutiful servant for his faithfulness to his master. He has performed his service with diligence and has done all that the master required of him. The master punishes the other servant who behaved wickedly. This servant was not only irresponsible – he was frequently absent from work and spent his master's money by throwing endless parties with his friends. The wicked servant also abused his fellow workers with physical force and violence – probably to make them do the work he was supposed to do for his master. The master not only strips him of his job and a secure place to live, but removes him from the joy and fellowship of the people he lived and worked with. The wicked servant is cast into a prison of like-minded rebels, trouble-makers, thieves, and murderers.

This vivid picture gives us a glimpse of wht hell is like – a dark and dismal society of endless quarreling, strife, envy, and hatred. Should we be surprised to see a just master acting with such swift judgment? After all the master is only giving back to the wicked servant what he has given to others through his abusive and irresponsible behavior. The master rewards the faithful servant with friendship, honor, and promotion But the master punishes the unfaithful servant, who stole from his master and used his position to abuse others, by removing him from his position of trust. The Lord has entrusted each one of us with his gifts and grace – the grace to love God with faithfulness, trust, and obedience – and the grace to love our neighbor as ourself. Do you want to be faithful and reliable as the Lord is faithful and trustworthy?

The Lord loves faithfulness and richly rewards those who are faithful to him. What is faithfulness? It's keeping one's word, promise, and commitments no matter how tough or difficult it gets. Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that he expects of us. Fortunately God gives the grace and strength to remain faithful. He also rewards faithfulness. The joy and privilege of being a son or daughter of God carries with it an awesome responsibility. The Lord expects us to make good use of the gifts and graces he gives to us. The more he gives, the more he requires. The temptation while the Master is away is to put off for tomorrow what we know the Master expects us to do today. How can we grow in faithfulness? God's grace shows us the way. When we are faithful in the little tasks and promises we make, we learn to be faithful in the bigger and more important responsibilities and tasks entrusted to us.

The Lord Jesus calls us to be vigilant in watching for his return and to be ready to meet him when he calls us to himself. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may have the wisdom, help, and strength we need to turn away from sin to embrace God's way of love, justice, and holiness. The Lord's warning of judgment causes dismay for those who are unprepared, but it brings joyful hope to those who eagerly wait for his return in glory. God's judgment is good news for those who are ready to meet him. Their reward is God himself, the source of all truth, beauty, goodness, love and everlasting life.