by Jose Kurian Puliyeril

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 12: 32-48

Today's reading starts with our Lord's kind and compassionate words "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Verse 32) It is also a thrilling promise as well as a wonderful revelation of God's plan about the future of mankind. What is the significance of the words 'little flock or whom our Lord meant as the little flock? It is sure that it was nobody else other than the blessed disciples, whom our Lord entrusted to carry on His mission on earth. When our Lord delivered the sermons, a large number of people always had listened to it but a very few only could identify Him as the Lord and savior. When the Apostles were called to their profession, they all blindly followed Him having sound faith in the one who had called them. Though they were not of the high society of those days, they were blessed enough to be trustworthy to their call. That is why our Lord addressed them the little flock. In St. Matthew 11:25 we read, I thank thee O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent and has revealed to babies." In II Thessalonians 1:11 we hear a similar statement. "Wherefore also we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power." Here we learn that all those who are trustworthy to the call will be blessed, as our Lord God blessed in the past. We should not forget that we also have been called and He is still calling each and every one of us. Are we able to respond to His call ideally? Kindly think for a moment.

In verse 33 we read, "sell what you have and give alms". Can we think of our God telling us to sell what all we have and give alms? If not what was meant by our Lord? In our human understanding, when we sell what we have, the immediate after effect is the loss of the ownership right. God wants the same thing to avoid the ownership right. That's all. We all are aware that what all riches of the world held by us and enjoyed by us are given by our God and while He is the owner we all are just trustees of His riches. This is what is reminded by Lord Jesus. When we are concerned about the ownership right, we feel sorry for giving alms or donations for the noble causes. This is what is experienced in our daily lives. The rich people are seemed more worried about the loss usually incurred by giving donations and alms than the medium class and lower income group. The rich people are more concerned about their wealth and it's volume.

Our Lord Himself declares where there is our treasure there will be our hearts. The ones who posses more worldly riches keeps more time with their treasure and they feel worried in its decrease even in small volumes. When there is request of fund raising for a noble cause, or to give alms, feel that what you give belongs to God and we are not going to lose anything. In verse 35 our Lord advises us to gird our loins and to keep our lights. St. Paul advises us "stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having our breastplates of righteousness. St. Peter also exhorts us to "wherefore gird the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

At the time of the preparations for the great war against our enemy, the Satan and the evil forces, let our loins be girded with our Lord God's truth, love, peace and hope. If so we could win our war against the evil forces. Let us utilize the support and co-operation of all our departed clergy as well as laymen. In verses 35 onwards our Lords emphasizes the need to wait for Him. Let us examine ourselves whether we are bothered to wait for Him or not. "Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he comes should find watching" says our Lord in Verse 37. When St. Peter asked, "Lord are you speaking this parable about us" our Lord replied promptly that it was. Because, they were the chosen ones, to be the rulers over the households of the real master.

We believe our forefathers were trustworthy to God Almighty throughout their worldly lives. They were the beloved of our God. The Sunday set apart for the all the departed clergy as well as the all souls are not only to pray for the remission of their sins if any. We are supposed to pray for them in each and every canonical as well as private prayers as well as all the Sacraments.

This sort of special days' observation is meant to seek their support and co-operation for the great fasting/Lent. Remember the Holy Church is fasting or observing the lent and all the departed ones are a part and parcel of the Holy Church.