Active Watchfulness!

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis 18:6-9; Heb 11:1-2, 8-19; Lk 12:32-48

The nineteenth Sunday invites us to practice active watchfulness as a distinctive mark of Christian discipleship. 

The readings of the day help us reflect on watchfulness in diverse ways. 

The first reading highlights the fond remembrance of the people of Israel regarding God’s promises of deliverance from their enemies. Their trust in God’s promises is also a testament to their faith that God would surely act in their favor. The fact that they waited ‘with sure knowledge of the oaths’ declares not only their obedience but also their readiness to seize the moment of salvation, though God’s covenantal promises were made to the patriarchs. Thus, overcoming the temptations to passivity, God’s people waited in eager expectation of God’s salvific intervention on their behalf. The watchfulness of the Israelites made them alert to God’s preferential action on their behalf. 

The second reading begins with a definition of faith by Paul that ‘it is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.’ Paul’s reference to the exemplary faith of Abraham reminds us of the two kinds of faith: ‘Despite’ Faith and ‘Therefore’ Faith. Abraham’s faith belongs to the first category, as he manifested his faith not merely as belief but also as trust that led to action, even when uncertainties and ambiguities blurred his path. The fact that he left his homeland, lived as a sojourner, and was ready to offer up Isaac points to his unshakeable faith in God’s promises. The forward-looking nature of Abraham’s faith helped him trust God with what was unseen. This is why Abraham is our forefather in faith. 

Through the imagery of servants, the Gospel proposes watchfulness as a significant trait of discipleship. The eschatological teaching about the coming of the Son of Man is likened to a thief’s coming in the night. This is why Jesus employs the imagery of servants waiting to suggest that Christian life is lived in anticipation, not stagnation. In other words, it is active watchfulness, not passive waiting, that characterizes Christian discipleship. Here active watchfulness would also mean to guard our hearts and minds from disordered affections that could lead us away from God. Hence, when Jesus demands vigilance, it is not a call for anxiety or fear but urgency and readiness. A watchful discipleship means to stay spiritually alert, morally grounded, and lovingly responsive to the everyday prompting of the Spirit of God in us. 

Each of the readings helps us with a brilliant insight for further reflection. 

An Active Faith: The active nature of the Israelite faith is a lesson for us to keep spiritual lethargy at bay. Likewise, despair is the vice against the virtue of hope. If Christians cannot guard themselves against these two, it implies that our faith lacks the very content upon which it should thrive. 

A Pilgrim Mindset: The image of a pilgrim is highly significant to describe the faith journey of Christians in this world. We are called to adapt the mind of a pilgrim while passing through this world because only heaven is our homeland. The imagery also invites us to practice detachment so that we may never miss out on our spiritual focus. 

A Steward at Heart: Jesus’ call is to be responsible stewards who would make responsible use of time and talents in preparing for God’s coming. It also means to adapt readiness as a way of life. Responsible stewards are animated by such hope that the anticipation of what is to come radically transforms how they live. 

Let us pray that we may practice active watchfulness to await God’s coming. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar