Reflection for August 10, 2025

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Wisdom 18:6-9 | Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 | Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12 | Luke 12:32-48

​This Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, our readings remind us that true leadership always comes with stewardship and accountability. Today, we’ll reflect using the image of oil—oil that keeps the flame alive, smooths and sustains the workings of a system, and even slips off crowns and jewels, reminding us that power is never permanent. Our model for this kind of servant leadership is none other than Jesus, the servant of all.

Leni Robredo’s life in public service is like oil that keeps a flame burning—steady, quiet, and essential. Even after losing her presidential bid, she did not retreat into silence or bitterness. Through the Angat Buhay Foundation, she continued to bring hope and help to Filipinos, especially in times of disaster. With no national position or government budget, she relied on private donors and sponsors who trusted her integrity, knowing every peso would reach those who needed it most. Whether delivering relief goods in flood-hit towns or working to uplift far-flung communities, her presence is often felt long before the cameras arrive. Her popularity could have been used for comfort or prestige, yet she chose to serve simply and tirelessly as a humble local executive in Naga. Her example reminds us that true leadership fuels hope, and that we must keep on doing good until the situation becomes better—we must never get tired of doing good.

Our first reading from the Book of Wisdom recalls how God’s people—trusting in His promises—courageously awaited deliverance while offering united and faithful sacrifice, even as their enemies faced judgment. A true servant leader draws courage from those same promises, leading not for personal glory but for the salvation and well-being of those entrusted to them. This kind of leadership is like oil—steady, enduring, and indispensable. Oil nourishes the flame, keeping the lamp burning so light can shine in the darkness; without it, the fire dies. Servant leaders do the same: they sustain hope, guide direction, and keep hearts aflame through encouragement, prayer, and example. Like oil that seeps in to preserve, their presence quietly permeates the family or community, shielding it from division and fostering unity in God’s mission. Parents as servant-leaders keep the love and unity of the home burning bright. Likewise, community leaders inspire and encourage toward a shared vision—fueling the flame so it never goes out.

We know Walt Disney today as the man who brought the world castles, talking mice, and the “happiest place on earth.” But before the magic, there was hardship—deep, grinding hardship. In 1921, his first animation company failed. He couldn’t pay rent. At one point, his meals came from a can of dog food. Still, Disney kept moving forward. He believed—truly believed—that things would get better. That faith and determination worked like oil in the machinery of his life. Oil doesn’t remove the gears or erase the resistance, but it reduces the friction so everything can keep turning. His belief lubricated the grind of daily struggle, helping him overcome the squeaks and jams of discouragement, lack, and failure. In time, the dream became reality—not because the road was easy, but because he kept it moving. That’s the power of faith: it keeps life’s engine running smoothly, even when the journey is long and the terrain rough.

Our second reading in the Letter to the Hebrews shows how Abraham’s faith made him a willing participant in God’s plan, even when the path was unclear and the odds impossible. Servant leadership is like oil—it reduces friction and keeps the system running. Without it, parts grind, heat builds, and progress stops. Abraham’s trust in God kept the “gears” of his mission turning smoothly, allowing him to complete what God called him to do. In the same way, a manager at work who follows Abraham’s example doesn’t let tension or personality clashes stall the team. They resolve conflicts, keep processes flowing, and make sure everyone is moving toward shared goals. A teacher, too, becomes “oil” in the classroom—creating a safe, cooperative space where learning continues despite differences or challenges. Faith-driven servant leaders keep things moving not by force, but by reducing resistance, promoting harmony, and ensuring that the mission stays on course toward God’s vision.

Adolf Hitler once seemed unmatched, untouchable, and unstoppable. His armies marched across nations, his voice commanded millions, and his image loomed over an empire. Yet his reign crumbled, his power dissolved, and his life ended in tragedy and defeat. The oil of anointing reminds leaders that authority is borrowed, never owned. It is given for service, not self-glory. Like Hitler, every ruler, no matter how powerful, will one day stand without a crown and answer to the true King. What matters is not how tightly one clings to power, but how faithfully one serves as steward while it rests upon their head—before it inevitably slips away.

Our Gospel this Sunday calls us to be ever watchful, like servants who keep their lamps burning, ready for the Master’s return. Jesus reminds us that leaders, too, are stewards—entrusted with authority only for a time. Since ancient days, the hands of a priest, the head of a king, and the head of a bishop have been anointed with oil—a sign of God’s blessing and the sacred trust placed upon them. Yet oil is slippery, it will not cling forever. Crowns and mitres can slide off just as easily as oil runs down the skin. This anointing on a priest’s hands is not meant to be kept, but to be poured out for the people—just as Christ poured Himself out for all. Leaders need to park their political dreams for a moment and actually listen—to the Constitution’s framers and to the millions of citizens shouting, “Accountability, please!” Judges and justices? Time to make the law give birth to justice, not excuses. Those holding the purse strings must spill the tea on where the public’s money went, pay up their tax tab, and return any “souvenirs” they took from the nation’s coffers. And local officials, we’re looking at you—maybe explain how you spent billions (maybe trillions) on flood control, yet somehow we still need a bangca to get to school, work, or the market every rainy season. All power is temporary and delegated, and all leaders are temporary stewards of it. One day, every crown and every mitre will be returned to the true Master, and every anointed hand will have to answer: Did you serve My people—or keep My blessings only in your grasp?

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