“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (LK 12: 48)

“How much more” is our main question when we try to answer to God’s love. How much more can we be with Him, work with Him and pray with Him? We belong to Him, and we want to be with Him more and more.

“Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” (LK 12: 37)

Being “vigilant” means—ready to react immediately and alertly watchful. Jesus expects from us a new kind of reaction, not in action but in prayer. Prayer is more about being with God thanabout doing something (like the Rosary versus Adoration, where we can be focused on action rather than on contemplation). Our Lord invites us more to be with Him than to do something for Him.

“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” (LK 12: 20-21)

On one hand, we have “the one who stores up treasure for himself,” and on the other hand, we have another person, who’s “rich in what matters to God.” We know the huge difference between being a sincere gift of self, which is free, creative and joyful, and being a self-centered person, who takes everything only for himself. In the latter case, at the end, they will have a very sad experience.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” (HEB 4: 16)

God’s “throne” is not for celebrating God’s majesty and power, but it is “the throne of grace,” and its main mission is to give “mercy and grace for timely help.” God always protects us and looks for any kind of help to support us and to lead us to Him. When gifts were not enough, He came “to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (LK 12: 11-12)

As God’s children, we are under His constant protection. Sometimes it is our Guardian Angel who helps; sometimes it is an intervention of our patron saint. There are also some very particular moments in our lives when the Holy Spirit comes. One of these moments is when we need to testify to our faith “before synagogues and before rulers and authorities.” Our Lord assures us “not worry about how or . . . what to say” because the Holy Spirit “will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

“The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.” (LK 12: 6-7)

God is Love and all He has created came from that truth: because of love. Our Lord looks for any occasion to tell us about God’s love for us–how important we are to Him and how much more we can expect because of being His children. “Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.”  He reminds us always: “do not be afraid.”

“May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us; who have put our hope in you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed, through the forbearance of God–to prove his righteousness in the present time, that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.” (ROM 3: 24-26)

Jesus Christ, “whom God set forth as an expiation,” brought us God’s love and redemption–not because we deserved it or are worthy of it, but because we are His children. His merciful love speaks most clearly through His forgiveness.

“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. There is no partiality with God.” (ROM 2: 9-11)

“Everyone who does evil” can’t expect anything less than “affliction and distress.” At the same time, for “everyone who does good,” will be “glory, honor and peace.” It’s like in our Programs—whoever lives as a sincere gift of self can expect all the best; whoever expects, by demands, something from others will finish with distress.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous by faith will live.’” (ROM 1: 16-17)

We are chosen children of God. We received from Him a gift of salvation and a gift of faith. The only things we are expected to do is “not to be ashamed of the Gospel” and share with others the Good News. God Himself will take care of us for our righteousness. Our gentleness, respect and the gift of self to others are the perfect signs of our affiliation.

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.” (ROM 1: 5-7)

The Good News reminds us of our final destination and vocation: “called to be holy,” not because we are strong or we deserve it, but because we are chosen and loved by God. Everything we have we received from Him: “the grace of apostleship,” our dignity and our vocation. We are “beloved of God.”

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)