Greeting (See Heb 3:14)
The Lord Jesus is here with us. We are all partners with him if we hold on to the trust we had in the beginning. May he always be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
Stand Ready in Faith
It is surprising how many people live in fear: fear of illness, fear of losing their beloved ones, fear of their own death, fear of today, fear of tomorrow. Jesus assures us: “Do not fear! Do not give up your hope! Have faith!” Even when we go through difficult days, we should never give up our faith and hope; we should always stay alert to the Lord and to his loving coming among us. In this eucharist we ask the Lord to keep us always attentive to his presence.
God Is with Us
If we knew from the beginning the difficulties we would have to cope with before we could bring something to a good end, would we have had the courage to begin the work? And even then we fail at times. Yes, we would have done it and do it again if we had faith and hope and strength of character. That is what faith and hope are all about: to do what we have to do, to go on even if we are working in the dark, for if we have faith we know we are not alone. God is with us, there is a promise and a future, and the dawn will come. In this Eucharist we ask the Lord to sit with us at table and to give us strength.
Penitential Act
Let us acknowledge before the Lord that at times we have failed to believe fully in his promises and in his future. (pause)
Lord Jesus, you tell us: Do not be afraid. Trust in me. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you ask of us to be always ready to open the door for you. Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you expect us to serve you in people as your faithful servants. Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, let your kind forgiveness strengthen our faith and hope. Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray for trust in God’s promises (pause) Lord God, unseen and yet the ground of all reality, of all that counts, we seek security and certainty, something we can see and hold on to. It is fearful for us to walk in the dark and confusing not to know where the road leads. Be truly our God in whom we trust: Help us to serve you faithfully in the present and to be ready to follow you in the future. Take us by the hand and guide us through all obstacles to the land of your promise. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Wis 18:6-9): Trust in God’s Promises
When God’s people had to pass through trials, they recalled the night of the first Passover, when God had saved them.
1 Reading: Wis 18:6-9
Second Reading (Heb 11:1-2,8-19 or 11:1-2,8-12): Abraham, Father of the Faith
Abraham became a pilgrim of faith because he trusted in God’s promises. He is our model, even if, like him, we don’t see where God will lead us.
2 Reading: Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
Gospel (Lk 12:32-48 or 12:35-40): Prepared for the Lord’s Coming
Our faith should be so firm as to make us trust in the word of Jesus and to be ready to meet him any time.
Gospel: Lk 12:32-48
Intercessions
Let us pray, with the fullest trust, to our kind and faithful God, and let us say: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That the Church may bring the light of faith where there is darkness and indifference, hope where there is fatalism and despair, and love where there is hatred and strife, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That leaders, prophets, witnesses of faith, and all those whose task it is to keep hope alive toward a better world may be guided by the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That those who are discouraged by trials, by their troubles and fears, may keep believing and hoping in a God who brings everything to a good end, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That all of us may grow in the certainty that our commitment to justice and love, and our dedicated service in everyday life are needed to make God’s promises come true, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
– That we may learn in our communities to share with one another what we have and to bear witness to our living hope, and thus prepare the return of the Lord, let us pray: R/ Lord, we place all our trust in you.
Lord, we know that you love us and that you care for us. We trust in you, our living God for forever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, here are bread and wine, the signs of faith and hope in a world not sure of where it is going. Accept out thanks for reassuring us that we need not be afraid. For you have set for us the table of your Son Jesus Christ. Let him give us a firm and living faith that makes us trust in your future as the fulfillment of all our hopes. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Each Eucharist is an act of faith and hope, for it is God present among us now as the pledge of our resurrection and the return of Christ in glory. Let us give thanks to the Father for it.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
With Jesus our Lord we entrust ourselves to our Father in heaven and we expect all good things from him, and so we pray: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and from all fear to entrust ourselves to you, even when we are not sure where you lead us. Call us away from our certainties, and lead us to the land of your promise, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those servants whom the Lord finds awake when he comes. He will give them a place at his table and serve them. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, you have kept your promise: you have broken for us the bread of your Son and poured for us his wine of joy. Jesus has waited on us at his table. Help us to hold on to your dream of happiness and justice for all. Help us to live in faith and to support one another, as you lead us to the land of your promise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
We have watched and prayed with the Lord. Let us be people who wait for the return of the Lord, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. For the friend or the stranger who knocks is the Lord himself. May almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in peace, trusting in the Lord and serving one another. R/ Thanks be to God.
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Commentary
Treasure Hunt
Read:
The book of Wisdom speaks of the ancestors in faith trusting God’s promises. The letter to the Hebrews defines faith and discusses the patriarchs as its exemplars. Jesus invites us to treasure what matters and orient our lives towards it.
Reflect:
What we treasure will orient our entire being and guide our lives. Think of a mother who is deep asleep, totally oblivious to the noise of the traffic on the nearby road or the planes that fly above; yet the slightest whimper of her new-born baby will wake her up. For, she treasures her baby. Or, think of a businessman on bed. No noises around may disturb his sleep, but the ring of the telephone may wake him up, for it could be a business call and that’s what he treasures. We have scores of stories of people doing the seemingly impossible in sports, academics, and other various avenues of life. They do so precisely because they treasure such achievements and thereby have oriented their entire being and invested every resource towards realizing the same. What creates saints is their treasuring God and His will.
Pray:
Pray for the grace to give primacy to God in every moment.
Act:
Reflect on this question today: What do I treasure most in my life?
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10 August 2025
Luke 12: 32-48
Invest in Love: the only treasure that lasts
Last Sunday’s Gospel warned us about the foolishness of placing our trust in possessions. The rich farmer who hoarded his harvest lost everything in an instant. Today, Jesus continues the conversation—but with a surprising invitation: “Do not be afraid.” Why begin with this? Because what He proposes challenges our instincts. It’s not about religious rituals or devotions; it’s about how we handle our possessions, money, and talents—things we deeply cling to.
Jesus addresses His “little flock,” the ones who truly follow Him, not the crowds. To these trusted friends, He proposes a radical investment: not in stocks or storage, but in love. He urges us to use our possessions not for hoarding, but for serving. To give generously is not reckless; it is wise. Why? Because only love—lived through charity—cannot be stolen or devalued. Houses, lands, and wealth may pass, but acts of love echo eternally in God's kingdom.
Jesus illustrates this with a parable: a master leaves his house for a wedding feast and entrusts it to his servants. These servants must remain alert, with their lamps lit and tunics tied, ready to serve. The house is the Christian community, made up not of lords or bosses, but of servants. There is no room for titles or self-importance—only service. The Christian must always be ready—not for their own gain—but to respond in love when others knock.
And when the master returns? A stunning reversal: he serves the servants. This is the heart of the Gospel. God, in Jesus, is not a distant master but a servant who wipes our tears, who comes not to take but to give. This image overturns all human ideas of power.
But Jesus warns us, too: the thief will come. Not death, necessarily—but opportunities that arrive suddenly and test whether we’re ready to give. A poor person asking for help. A chance to forgive. A call to serve. If we’ve used our treasures well, there will be nothing left for the thief to take—because we’ve already invested them in love.
To those entrusted with more—leaders, pastors, ministers—Jesus speaks plainly. They are not masters, but stewards. Their job is to nourish the community with care and humility. Yet there is danger here too: pride, power, negligence. When leaders forget they are servants, they betray their calling. Jesus uses harsh language—not to condemn—but to awaken us to the weight of responsibility that comes with knowledge of the Gospel.
Today’s Gospel challenges all of us: Where is your treasure? What are you doing with what God has entrusted to you?
Let us not fear giving. Let us not delay loving. Let us stay awake, with lamps lit and hearts ready. In every knock on the door, in every face of need, it is Christ who comes.
And blessed—yes, truly blessed—are those servants whom the Master finds awake when He comes.
