Bishop Enrique Díaz Díaz shares with Exaudi readers his reflection on the Gospel of this Sunday, August 10, 2025, entitled:  “Blessed are the people chosen by God”

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Wisdom 18, 6-9:  “You punished our adversaries and covered your chosen ones with glory”

Psalm 32:  “Blessed are the people God has chosen”

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19:  “They were looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Luke 12:32-48:  “You also must be prepared.”

In today’s Gospel, we discover the innermost desire for the definitive encounter with Christ, a desire that compels us to be always prepared, with our spirits alert, in constant tension, because we await this encounter with all our hearts. It gives fundamental meaning to our lives. We all have this desire in our hearts, whether explicit or implicit. A treasure, a tunic, or a steward are examples with which the Lord Jesus emphasizes the importance of this definitive encounter.

The first piece of advice Jesus gives his disciples today is striking. On the one hand, he expresses himself with diminutives and a tenderness that make us think of the fragility of the community; but on the other, he invites us not to be afraid. The foundation of this peace and security comes not from within ourselves, but because “your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom”.   We have reached a tremendous state of fear that transforms into pathological forms of fear that make people withdrawn, sullen, and aggressive. It is true that the violence in the country hurts us all; it is true that trust is lost, but it is also true that we must create spaces of hope and creativity that can overcome these fears. We cannot renounce freedom and hope for the sake of security. We need a certain balance between freedom and security; otherwise, we will end up locked in our own prisons. There are many external attacks, and they require our full attention, like the master of the house who refuses to let a thief break in. It’s urgent to be cautious about things that can harm us, but a true disciple will always have a haven of peace and healthy optimism in his or her heart. What do we feel when Christ tells us:  “Fear not, my little flock” ?

Christ tells us not to be afraid, but also warns us where evil can grow and what the greatest danger is. The heart becomes sick when it lacks love. The heart loses its sense of purpose when things cling to it and feelings are lacking. The accumulation of goods is often an almost instinctive behavior that arises from fear of poverty and the future. But it is not uncommon for it to transform into selfishness, excessive luxury, excessive opulence, and finally, avarice. Sometimes we want to assuage our conscience by giving alms or donating what is no longer useful, but the heart remains stuck in material goods. In the presence of our brothers and sisters, great generosity is required, and in the presence of goods, true freedom. As in the example of the steward, the goods are not ours; they belong to God and are for all humanity. Saint Basil taught us: “The bread you keep for yourself belongs to the hungry; the cloak you hide in the closet belongs to the naked; the shoes left forgotten in a corner belong to the barefoot; the money you hide belongs to the needy…” It is necessary to strengthen our hearts and not let them become attached to the superfluous. Although it means fighting selfishness, it will always make us freer.

The three examples Jesus offers us today each have their own teaching and strongly challenge us about how we live our lives, how we use our possessions, and how we await the coming of the Lord. The disciple’s vigilance is not pure and simple expectation. It refers to a dynamic and creative lifestyle that seeks, inquires, hopes, rejoices, and works to build the kingdom. It is not the steward who mistreats, drinks, gets drunk, and forgets that the Lord is coming; thus, we would only have a mediocre and selfish life that would lead us to ruin. One of the risks that constantly threatens us is falling into a superficial, mechanical, routine, and overcrowded life, from which it is not easy to escape. Over the years, as they struggle with difficulties, many people become discouraged and end up living a meaningless life, diminishing their ideals and impoverishing themselves spiritually. To be vigilant is to wake up each day with a desire to live more and better, to deepen the meaning of what we do, to find happiness in service. A time of vigilance and waiting means a time of joy, a time of work, a time of construction, responsibility, fidelity, and a time of love. With each of these examples, Jesus leads us to examine our lives and seek to give them meaning.

Today’s passage offers many opportunities for reflection. We need to fully understand which thieves are truly stealing our peace, where they are entering, or whether we ourselves have invited them into our home. It is sad that, disguised as well-being and comfort, we often bring in enemies who undermine the peace and harmony of our home. We need to be alert, but we also need to do a very thorough check of our heart, to make sure it is not filled with selfishness; to make sure its arteries are not clogged with the fat of material goods; to make sure it is not hardened by envy, resentment, or revenge. Let us look at the enemies without who can tear us down, but be very alert to the enemies within who can contaminate our hearts. In the face of all these dangers, let us listen very carefully and attentively to Jesus’ examples, which invite us to be alert, but with the security and hope that his words give us: “Do not be afraid, my little flock.”

God, Good Father, grant us the wisdom to uncover the scheming of the thief who seeks to steal our inner peace. Grant us the generosity to understand that sharing makes us grow. Grant us the wisdom to be attentive to the coming of your Son. Amen.