Sunday, Aug. 10, is the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Mass readings: Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 or Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12; Luke 12:32-48 or Luke 12:35-40.

In the Gospel, Jesus presents a “recipe for readiness.”

Christ offers us five things to reflect on and do: Reassess your wealth; ready yourself to work; read the word; remain watchful; and reflect on your reward.

First, Jesus instructs, “Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

The Lord reminds us: When we are generous to the needy and poor, we store up treasure for ourselves in heaven; we should also simplify, to be less rooted in this world to experience that our greatest treasure is God and what awaits us in heaven.

When the Lord says, “Gird your loins,” he means, “Roll up your sleeves.” What does he have in mind? Growing in holiness, pursuing justice, and raising children in Godly fear. The Lord wants us to work in his kingdom, so we must commit to prayer, Sunday worship, the reception of the sacraments, obedience and holiness.

What comes next? “Light your lamps.”

A lamp is a symbol for readiness (e.g., the Wise and Foolish Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13) and for Scripture. Being ready means being rooted and immersed in the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church.

The Lord then says, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” We must exhibit active waiting: Set our houses in order, sweeping clean our souls of sin and removing the clutter of worldliness.

What comes of such commitment?

Jesus explains: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.”