Blessed Virgin Mary

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

1Thessalonians 4: 9-11

 Regarding mutual love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because God himself taught you how to love one another.  

You already practice it with all the brothers and sisters of Macedonia, but I invite you to do more.  Consider how important it is to live quietly without bothering others, to mind your own business, and work with your hands, as we have charged you.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 25: 14-30

Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them.  He gave five talents of silver to one servant,   two talents to another servant, and one talent to a third, to each according to his ability; and he went away.

 He who received five talents went at once to do business with the talent and gained another five.  The one who received two talents did the same and gained another two. But the one who received one talent dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

 After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning.  The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more ’ The master answered: ‘well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you in Charge of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.’

Then the one who had received two talents came and said: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two ta­l­ents; with them I have gained two more. The master said: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you in charge of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.’

Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said: ‘Master, I know that you are a hard man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not scattered. I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.’  But his master replied: ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered you should have deposited my money in the bank, and given it back to me with interest on my return.

 Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them.  As for that useless servant, throw him out into Outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

Reflection gospel：

“HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS, TWO TALENTS, AND ONE TALENT.”

Jesus’ ministry of healing, teaching, and reconciling has ushered the reign of God on Earth, and it continues until the end of time. As the living “body” of Christ, we share in his saving mission; we make use of our time and giftedness, living creatively and responsibly, to help build God’s kingdom of love.

Acknowledging that we make up the visible “body” of Christ, what is our role/task in the kingdom that he enacted? what contribution(s) can we make to the continuing mission of Jesus?

Once we are able to identify our role/task, we will discover that there are corresponding gifts given to us so that we may be able to accomplish it. We need to keep ourselves busy utilizing these gifts for others, for the community, for the Church, and for the reign of God as a whole.

We keep working for social justice, and for the protection and care of God’s creation. There is no room for laziness or idleness as we live out our call. Our task is meant to accomplish something for the well-being of every living creatures and for the flourishing of life on Earth.